A GUNMAN is starting a five year prison term - after he was framed by a picture on his own mobile phone.

Gavin Whiteman, 24, posed for the terrifying image as he showed off to friends, taking aim with a sawn-off shotgun in front of the camera.

But police found the picture on his mobile phone and Whiteman has now admitted possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Whiteman, of Radcliffe Street, St Mary's, Oldham, was sentenced to five years in prison at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester.

The court heard officers became suspicious when they were called out to a disturbance in Platting Road, Lydgate in December last year.

When they got there Whiteman and his friends were acting strangely and refusing to give them a full account of what had happened.

Police decided to search the area and they found a drawstring bag behind the garden wall with a sawn off shotgun and cartridges inside.

Officers examined Whiteman's mobile phone and found the photo of him posing with the gun and CCTV footage showed Whiteman going into a shed and coming out with a bag.

Detective Constable Michelle Lomax said: "Whiteman was arrogant enough to take a picture of himself holding the shotgun on his mobile phone, obviously believing that he was above the law and would never get caught.

"We may never know the reason for the disturbance outside his house that night but the fact that police recovered this weapon from behind the garden wall shows that the result of that disturbance could have been a lot worse.

"I am pleased that another dangerous firearm has been removed from the streets of Oldham and hope this case sends out a message that possessing firearms does not give you status, it gives you time behind bars and a criminal record."

Three other men arrested in relation to the incident have since been released without charge.