A FORMER gamekeeper who was barred from keeping guns after police found ’disturbing’ Nazi memorabilia and a cannabis plantation in his home 16 years ago has failed in his bid for a new firearms licence and shotgun certificate.

Blair Grindle, 57, of High Street, Lydney, told Gloucester Crown Court he needs to be able to own guns again so he can work as a pest controller.

But Judge Jamie Tabor QC rejected Mr Grindle’s appeal against the refusal of Gloucestershire Police in June this year to grant him a new firearms licence and shotgun certificate.

The judge said he felt Mr Grindle’s past criminal convictions - for burglary and assault as well as for growing cannabis - and the presence of a ’disturbing’ collection of wartime Nazi material in his home had tipped the balance against him having guns.

Despite criminal convictions in his youth Mr Grindle had held gun licences between 1988 and 2000.

Judge Tabor said: “Mr Grindle has a disturbing interest in some of the worst aspects of Nazi history.

"No single issue presented to me would prevent the applicant from having a certificate - but taking his history as a whole and his possession of this particular type of Nazi memorabilia, is very concerning."

The judge ordered Mr Grindle to pay £250 towards police costs.