by Keith Hunt

A blonde 21-year-old who armed herself with a loaded pistol to protect her family has been locked up indefinitely.

Collette O'Flaherty told police she rented the gun for £300, having put down a £50 deposit.

O'Flaherty, of Sturla Road, Chatham, wept as a judge imposed imprisonment for public protection. She will serve three years before parole will be considered.

Maidstone Crown Court heard O'Flaherty obtained the .22 calibre revolver after an ex-boyfriend threatened her and her family.

She took it to her brother Chris's flat in Victoria Street, Chatham, while he was away.

Police officers went to the flat with a search warrant on September 27 last year and found the gun in a box in the basement. Four bullets were in the chamber.

The brother was arrested but O'Flaherty went to Medway police station two days later and claimed the weapon was hers.

She told officers she obtained the firearm because there had been a number of violent incidents involving her family.

"She said she had the gun because things were getting out of control," said prosecutor Charles John-Jules.

"If anyone else caused problems at her mother's address, she would have threatened them with the gun."

O'Flaherty admitted possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and possessing prohibited ammunition.

Louise Oakley, defending, said O'Flaherty had not caused any physical harm, but accepted a loaded gun meant there was always potential for death.

"She was not going to go out and find people who had been causing her family problems," said Miss Oakley.

"It was to scare them if they came to her. She said: 'If they come to my house, I will be ready.'"

Miss Oakley said O'Flaherty had not sought a loaded gun. She paid a £50 deposit for it and was to pay the remaining £250 when it was returned.

"This was, perhaps, a young girl totally out of her depth when it comes to firearms. It was, as she would describe it, madness in her head.

"She was not thinking straight. She was protecting her family. It was never her intention to endanger people's lives."

Miss Oakley said the court would be concerned that a young woman could obtain a firearm so easily and quickly.