A judge has expressed concern at the ease with which weapons for use in crime can be openly bought in shops.

He spoke out at the end of a case involving a robber who bought a ball bearing gun for £69.99 in Canterbury to use in a £100,000 raid on security guards.

Stephen Dalligan went with escort girl and pole dancer Chloe Brown, 23, to Goldings Army surplus store in Palace Street to get the gun.

Dalligan, 48, did not have any identification on him, so Miss Brown produced prescription tablets with her name on the box and the address of the pharmacist.

Wearing a crash helmet, Dalligan carried out the raid on an Asda supermarket in Sittingbourne on May 13 as two guards were loading a cash machine.

Judge Philip Statman showed his concern after Dalligan, of Beckenham, was convicted of robbery, possessing an imitation firearm, false imprisonment and concealing criminal property.

“I cannot understand how it can be that firearms of this kind are so easily available in shops, effectively almost high street shops such as the one we have to deal with here,” he said.

“I find it extraordinary there is a lack of regulation when such things as ball bearing guns pass out of shops into the hands, as in this case, of a man intent on robbery.”

The judge added: “It seems to me in these troubled and dangerous times that is an area that ought to be looked at by the authorities as a matter of urgency.”

Judge Statman adjourned sentence on Dalligan until January 13, warning that he could be facing an indeterminate sentence for public protection.

Miss Brown, of Lee, south east London denied aiding and abetting Dalligan in the robbery and firearm charges and was acquitted of both.