A Lithuanian who armed himself with a loaded pistol when entering the UK to work as a mushroom picker has been jailed for five years.

Aurimas Radzevicius told the authorities he read on the internet his countrymen were being picked on by Polish workers.

The 25-year-old arrived at the UK Channel Tunnel control zone in Coquelle, France, on March 20 in a mini-bus with other Lithuanians.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the 9mm semi-automatic pistol was found in his shoulder bag with three blank cartridges and one CS cartridge. An expert examined it and concluded an obstruction in the barrel could easily be removed using basic DIY tools.

When arrested, Radzevicius, who also had loose another blank cartridge and CS cartridge, protested: "Gas gun, gas gun." He said he had the CS cartridges to let off and make a loud sound.

He added he did not know it was illegal to have such a weapon in the UK. Had he done so, he said, he would have hidden it.

Radzevicius faced a minimum five years imprisonment under the Firearms Act unless there were exceptional circumstances.

Judge Philip Statman said it had been emphasised Radzevicius believed he was entitled to carry the pistol. He had it in his car for protection legally in Lithuania.

The judge said he was prepared to give Radzevicius the benefit of the doubt about the way he said he bought it in his country.

But he added: "I am satisfied there are no exceptional circumstances in this particular case. The proper sentence is five years imprisonment."