LONDON, England - November 14, 2009 - A former soldier who handed a discarded shotgun in to police faces at least five years imprisonment for doing his duty.

Paul Clarke, 27, was found guilty of possessing a firearm at Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday - after finding the gun and handing it personally to police officers on March 20 this year.

The jury took 20 minutes to make its conviction, and Clarke now faces a minimum of five year's imprisonment for handing in the weapon.

In a statement read out in court, Clarke said, "I didn't think for one moment I would be arrested. I thought it was my duty to hand it in and get it off the streets."

The court heard how Clarke was on the balcony of his home in Nailsworth Crescent, Merstham, when he spotted a black bin liner at the bottom of his garden.

In his statement, he said, "I took it indoors and inside found a shorn-off shotgun and two cartridges. I didn't know what to do, so the next morning I rang the Chief Superintendent, Adrian Harper, and asked if I could pop in and see him.

"At the police station, I took the gun out of the bag and placed it on the table so it was pointing towards the wall."

Clarke was then arrested immediately for possession of a firearm at Reigate police station, and taken to the cells.