Police found a sawn-off shotgun when they searched a house.

Officers went to the home of William Buckley and Rachel Harris, in Glazebrook Road, New Parks, Leicester, while investigating the fraudulent sale of stolen cars and found the illegal weapon, the city's crown court was told on Thursday.

Buckley, 54, pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited firearm on December 8, last year.

He further admitted handling a stolen Mitsubishi car and fraud, by falsely claiming to a purchaser that it was genuinely for sale and was not stolen, on July 9, last year.

Buckley also admitted handling a stolen Audi car on July 16.

Both he and Harris, 36, admitted fraud, by falsely claiming to a purchaser that the car was genuinely for sale and not stolen, on July 16.

Buckley further pleaded guilty to possessing criminal property, an amount of money, knowing it was the proceeds of crime, on December 8.

He was remanded back into custody for sentencing on April 16. Harris was released on conditional bail.