A MAN with a mental age of 10 has been warned by a judge he risks a life sentence if he commits another firearms offence.

Dean Nicholson was arrested by police after a car was broken into near the YMCA in Redditch.

But while inside a police car, he produced two guns from his clothing, Rhona Campbell, prosecuting, told Worcester Crown Court.

Both were replicas which Nicholson had bought the night before from a man who encouraged him to use them.

The 22-year-old suffered from moderate learning disabilities and had an effective age of 10, said his barrister, Simon Phillips.

Judge Michael Mott warned him to stay away from all types of gun and said if he had his way, the manufacture of imitation firearms would be banned in Britain.

He told Nicholson, of Cedar View, Batchley: "If you come back to court again for a really serious offence I might have to send you to prison for life. Make an effort to stay out of trouble."

Nicholson was given a two-year community rehabilitation order after pleading guilty to two counts of possession of an imitation firearm at the time of arrest.

Police were called to a Vauxhall Cavalier being broken into on November 23 last year. They found a door bent outwards.

Standing nearby in the dark was Nicholson. He ran off but was quickly caught.

Mr Phillips said he had been under the influence of a man who had convictions for kidnap and assault and had served a two-year jail term.

Nicholson had reacted in an exemplary manner to a previous probation order for burglary three years ago. He was married with two children.

Mr Phillips said custody would have been dangerous because of his mental difficulties, which could lead to self mutilation.