A MAN has been jailed after trying to sell a James Bond-style pen gun to a stranger in the street.

Hugh Anthony West, 40, was sentenced to five years in prison after attempting to sell the copycat device used by 007 in Never Say Never Again.

West, of Radstock Close, Fallowfield, approached a stranger in a car park in Rusholme with the gun which was disguised as a fountain pen and offered to sell him the device and ammunition.

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But he refused and alerted police who were able to track West down and arrested him.

Detective Constable Victoria Wilson, of Longsight CID, said: "This sort of weapon is easy to hide and could have fallen into the wrong hands, so it is fortunate that the man reported West's behaviour straight away so officers could arrest him and ensure another gun has been taken out of circulation."

West was arrested in August last year after attempting to sell the gun to a man in a parked car on Wilmslow Road in Rusholme.

He explained to the man how by inserting a bullet in the barrel of the pen and pulling a pin the pen would fire the cartridge - similar to the gun used in the 1983 James Bond film that the spy used to kill Fatima Blush.

But the man refused the buy the weapon and called police as soon as West walked away.

Bullet

Officers arrived and searched West. He was found to be in possession of a pen, which was examined and found to contain a bullet.

Det Con Wilson commended the man for alerting police.

She said: "It is very concerning that West would approach a stranger and attempt to sell a potentially lethal weapon.

"I'd like to commend that man for thinking so quickly and directing the officers to West."

West pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition at Manchester Crown Court and was sentenced to five years in jail. Tweet