A CONVICTED murderer was caught with a makeshift gun in a Kent nightclub just two months after being released from a life sentence, a court heard.

Marlon Manning was just 16 when he and another person man robbed a man in the street, kicking him repeatedly in the head and causing numerous skull fractures.

Manning, now aged 30, was locked up for murder in 1993 - and only released on licence in February this year.

But within two months he was back behind bars serving the rest of his sentence after door staff at Maidstone's ikon nightclub caught him with the makeshift weapon.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the gun had been adapted from a torch and was capable of firing live ammunition. Two further “torchguns” were found at his home in St Peter Street, Maidstone.

Sentencing Manning to a total of five years, which will be served concurrently to his life sentence, Judge Michael Lawson QC said: “This offence was committed out of foolishness rather than an evil disposition to cause others serious harm or serious fear.”

Manning admitted three offences of possessing a prohibited weapon on April 23, possessing ammunition without a certificate and possessing a firearm when prohibited.

The court heard he had been given the gun by a girl he met after his release. She had been given it by her boyfriend to look after and “knew it was dodgy”.

Jeannie Mackie, defending, said Manning had found it difficult to adjust to adult life when he was released.

“Instead of being able to turn around and say neither of us should have anything to do with it (the gun) he said he would help her out and took it for her,” she added. “This was an unbelievably stupid action.”

Anne Phillips, prosecuting, said Manning had a bag over his shoulder when he tried to get into ikon just before 1am.

He willingly agreed to hand it over to be searched and door staff found the “torch”. However, there was no lens cover and a spring was inside a slit along the side of the torch.

“The defendant kept saying: “Don’t worry, it’s just a torch, I’ll put it back in the car,” said Miss Phillips.

The torch was handed back and Manning left, but one doorman, said to have experience of firearms, conveyed his concerns to a passing police car.

Manning was stopped as he was leaving the car park. He denied being at the nightclub and having any kind of weapon.

However, the officers searched the car park and underneath four different vehicles they found four parts of the weapon. Inside one was a shell-casing.

“His home address was searched,” said Miss Phillips, “and in his bedroom in a chest of drawers were other component parts which, when put together, made two further torchguns.”

Manning told police that when he went to the nightclub he forgot he was carrying it.

“There was no intent to use the items,” said Miss Mackie. “He made it safe and threw it away before he was aware the police had been called.”

The court was told that the parole board will now decide when, or if, Manning is released.