TWO Czech nationals who imported assault rifles into Dover were branded ruthless young men and jailed under public protection sentence provisions.

Jaromir Kubanik, 27, and Vito Bertone, 25, both from Manchester, must serve at least six years before they can be considered for parole and Judge Adele Williams said had she passed a determinate sentence it would have been 12 years. Both were recommended for deportation.

Both had been convicted of possessing firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life last October and Kubanik admitted possessing firearms without authority and ammunition without a firearms certificate and smuggling them into the UK.

Canterbury Crown Court heard Customs staff took apart the car being driven by Kubanik and found components for two Czech made rifles, similar to AK47s, hidden in the car and in a suitcase. There were also 469 rounds of ammunition and a collection of other weapons comprising knives, metal batons, a cosh and baseball bat.

When Kubanik's home was searched further weapons, scalpels, garrot, tape, gloves, ties and plastic bags were found - in effect a kidnapping kit, said Edmund Burge, prosecuting at their trial.

Both had been convicted in June when sentence was adjourned for reports.

Jailing both, Judge Williams said she rejected their accounts to the jury adding: "In my assessment you are ruthless young men.

"I am sure you were in possession of these weapons and ammunition with the intent to use them yourselves to endanger life in a significant act of criminality in the Manchester area.

"Neither of you have shown a flicker of remorse or acknowledgement of these offences and pose a significant risk of causing serious harm to the public by the commission of other offences.

"These offences are so unique and so serious and my assessment of you as ruthless young men leads me to this conclusion."