Son slams his father's sentence as too weak

His possession came to light during a row with his wife, Christina, and last year he was charged and acquitted of threatening her with the gun.
At his recent trial he also pleaded guilty to common assault after grabbing her arms during the argument.
He was given one month, suspended for two years and for the remaining offences, three months suspended for two years to run concurrently.
But son Paul Thomas 39, did not feel the sentence had gone far enough. He said: "I am extremely disappointed, I thought he would have at least got a fine. It's a bit of a joke to be honest. I'm also very disappointed with the time this has taken to go through the court. I thought possession of an illegal firearm was a serious offence but it has taken a year and a half to bring it to court."
Prosecutor Rachel Drake said Christina Thomas, aged in her late 50s, reported her husband to police in September 2007 after the incident in July 2007.
She told Judge Bruce McIntyre that the couple's relationship had disintegrated and they had attempted to reconcile for the fifth and final time.
When he was arrested, Thomas showed the police the firearm, the prosecutor told the judge.
Defending, John Kearney maintained that his client had been intending to dispose of the gun but had not done so.
He said Thomas had held a shotgun licence for 40 years without any links to crime.
Mr Kearney said on the day of the argument, his client had said many things he regretted including a comparison between his wife and a woman with whom he had been having a relationship.
Judge McIntyre said exceptional circumstances meant he would not sentence Thomas to the maximum term of five years in prison.
"I accept that you have been the holder of a shotgun certificate and there has been no previous trouble during those 40 years," he said.
"The complainant made her allegations after the row on the advice of her solicitors during divorce proceedings.
"I hope you have learned something from this as you put yourself at risk of a five year prison sentence."
George Thomas did not respond to the Examiner's calls.