Two men who stole a shotgun from a Nottinghamshire gun club have been jailed.
An investigation Into CCTV images of Rikki Lount and Lee Wilburn led to the prosecution of the pair, who will now spend a combined 43 months in jail.
Nottinghamshire Police were initially called to Orston Shooting Club, in Orston, on November 24, 2019 after a report that a shotgun had been stolen from a gun rack in the club.
On December 1, one of the men returned to the club and stole a Nissan Navara Outlaw pick-up truck from the car park.
The man, later revealed to be Lount, had taken the car along with the car owner’s Doberman dog and shotgun shells that had been left in the vehicle while the owner went shooting.
Later that day, Lount was seen on CCTV in Mount Pleasant Kennels, Doncaster, handing over the Doberman that he stated he had found on in the road.
On December 19, Lount and Wilburn arrived at the gun club for the final time.
Members at the club alerted Nottinghamshire Police to their presence and the hunt for the men began.
A day later, cars linked to the investigation were stopped in Edlington, Doncaster by Nottinghamshire Police officers, and the men were arrested.
The car they were driving was also found to be stolen from South Yorkshire.
Lount and Wilburn pleaded guilty to theft of the shotgun and going equipped – using false number plates.
Lount, 30, of Ravensworth Road, Doncaster, pleaded guilty to further charges of theft of motor vehicle, driving while disqualified, theft of a jacket from the car and handling stolen goods.
Wilburn, 30, of Austerfield Road, Doncaster, was jailed for a total of 15 months. Lount was given 28 months in prison.
Detective Constable Fiona McVey, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “I’d like to thank Orston Shooting Club for their cooperation and efforts to help us arrest and build a strong case against Lount and Wilburn.
“The men targeted the club and on a number of occasions.”
“Nottinghamshire Police takes theft incredibly seriously and we will investigate all incidents thoroughly.
“Once again, I’d like to thank the club and the wider community for their ongoing support in catching Lount and Wilburn.”
