Key Points
- Graham Reid, 59, from Bryn Rhosyn, St Asaph, received a 21-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, at Caernarfon Crown Court on Friday, October 23, 2026.
- He admitted possessing a prohibited weapon and a weapon for the discharge of noxious liquid.
- Police were called to his house early in the afternoon on Monday, March 9, after neighbors raised concerns regarding difficulties they had with him.
- An air rifle, a prohibited firearm and pepper spray were recovered during a search of the property.
- The prohibited firearm was a top-venting blank firing semi-automatic pistol with a barrel of approximately 12 inches.
- As per the reports published in North Wales Live, the prosecutor Richard Edwards informed the court that the forensic examination revealed that the canister held CS spray.
- It is stated that the imitation pistol had the capacity to convert into a lethal weapon; however, Mr. Edwards added that Reid lacked the necessary skills and tools to achieve this.
- Reid also pleaded guilty to two charges of possession of offensive weapons in private premises, as reported by North Wales Live.
St Asaph (Wales Times) October 24, 2026 — A uk/local/st-asaph/">St Asaph veteran has received a suspended prison sentence after police found an air rifle, a prohibited firearm and pepper spray at his home following concerns raised by neighbours.
Graham Reid, 59, of Bryn Rhosyn, was sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court on Friday, October 23, to 21 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. As reported by the Rhyl Journal, he had previously pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon and a weapon for the discharge of noxious liquid.
The case arose after police attended Reid’s home shortly after 12pm on Monday, March 9. The Rhyl Journal reported that officers went to the address at the request of his neighbours, with whom he was said to have had “difficulties”.
What did police find at the St Asaph home?
When officers searched the property, they found an air rifle, a prohibited firearm and pepper spray. The Rhyl Journal reported that the firearm was a top-vented, blank-firing semi-automatic pistol with a barrel measuring approximately 12 inches.
Further details were given in North Wales Live’s coverage of the hearing. As reported by the outlet, prosecutor Richard Edwards told the court that a forensic examination later confirmed the canister contained CS spray.
Mr Edwards said the automatic pistol was an imitation firearm, but that it was capable of being converted into a lethal weapon and therefore fell within a prohibited category. He added that conversion would have required the “tools and expertise” to carry out, which Reid did not have.
North Wales Live also reported that Reid admitted possession of a prohibited, blank-firing pistol and two counts of possessing an offensive weapon in a private place.
Why did police attend Graham Reid’s home?
The court heard that Reid’s neighbours had contacted police about him. The Rhyl Journal reported that he was said to have had “difficulties” with them before officers attended the Bryn Rhosyn address.
During sentencing, Judge Nicola Jones referred to the neighbour difficulties and to Reid’s brain injury. North Wales Live reported that the judge said Reid had told the court:
“I just want to keep myself to myself and live alone but for some reason the neighbours called police.”
The judge also described what officers found during the search. According to North Wales Live, she said: “Police searched your house and found – under a pile of dust, to be fair to you – the prohibited firearm, the pepper spray and the air rifle.”
What did the court hear about Reid’s background?
Reid’s defence barrister, Amy Edwards, told the court that he had served in the armed forces. She said he had acquired a brain injury which had had a “devastating effect on his health”.
The Rhyl Journal reported that Reid had 12 previous convictions for 24 offences. It also reported that he had stable accommodation and regular contact with his support worker.
Ms Edwards said Reid had not brandished or threatened anyone with the items found at his home. North Wales Live reported that she told the court the probation service assessed him as posing a low risk of reoffending, and that he was not suited to usual probation requirements because of his health.
Reid had spent five months in custody on remand before sentencing. The Rhyl Journal reported that, during that period, he was placed on a “veterans’ wing”.
Why was the sentence suspended?
Judge Nicola Jones said the case involved exceptional circumstances because of Reid’s brain injury and his service to his country. The Rhyl Journal reported that she told him:
“You are an individual who has got a lot of difficulties in your life.”
The judge added:
“There are exceptional circumstances in this case, because of your brain injury, and because of your service to your country.”
She said she did not consider rehabilitation requirements appropriate. According to the Rhyl Journal, Judge Jones said:
“I don’t think you need rehabilitation. I think it would be setting you up to fail if I imposed any probation requirements for you.”
North Wales Live reported that the judge said Reid’s life was “difficult enough as it is”, and that she regarded the case as exceptional because he had not known the items were there due to his brain injury.
The judge also acknowledged the role of his defence barrister. The Rhyl Journal quoted her as telling Reid:
“Without Ms Edwards looking after you, things could have been very different.”
What happens to the weapons found?
Judge Jones ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the items seized from Reid’s home. The Rhyl Journal reported that this covered the items police confiscated during the search.
The sentence means Reid will not go to prison immediately, provided he complies with the suspension of his 21-month term for two years. The Rhyl Journal reported that the sentence was imposed at Caernarfon Crown Court on Friday, October 23.
Background of the development
The case began when neighbours in St Asaph contacted police about Reid, leading officers to attend his Bryn Rhosyn home on March 9. During the search, they recovered an air rifle, a prohibited blank-firing semi-automatic pistol and a pepper spray canister later confirmed to contain CS spray.
Reid subsequently admitted the offences before returning to Caernarfon Crown Court for sentence. The court was told about his military service, brain injury, previous convictions, time spent on remand and the support available to him in the community.
The sentencing decision reflected the court’s assessment that immediate custody was not required, while the weapons themselves are to be forfeited and destroyed.
Prediction: how this may affect St Asaph residents
For St Asaph residents, the case is likely to reinforce the importance of reporting concerns to North Wales Police when neighbours believe there may be a safety issue. The police response in this case followed a report from neighbours and resulted in a search of the property.
For veterans and people with acquired brain injuries in the area, the outcome may be viewed as an example of the courts considering personal circumstances, health needs and service background when deciding between immediate custody and a suspended sentence. The judge specifically cited Reid’s brain injury and military service as exceptional factors.
The case may also prompt local discussion about support for veterans living independently, particularly where health difficulties affect day-to-day life. The court heard that Reid had stable accommodation and regular contact with a support worker, factors that were relevant to the sentencing decision.
