Cumbrian dog breeder admits throwing ammunition through Buckingham Palace gate

A Crufts competing dog breeder could be jailed after he sparked a major security alert in London just days before the King’s Coronation by throwing shotgun cartridges through a main Buckingham Palace gate.

David Huber, 60, was detained at around 7pm on Tuesday, 2 May this year after he approached a main north centre pedestrian gate at the Royal residence and hurled two empty shotgun cartridges through railings.

That was just four days before the coronation of King Charles III, who was not inside the palace at the time.

Cordons were put in place after Huber was also found to be in possession of a bag which aroused suspicions, the Metropolitan Police confirmed after the incident.

Specialists attended and, after an assessment, a controlled explosion of the bag was conducted as a precaution.

Ch Supt Joseph McDonald had said: “Officers worked immediately to detain the man and he has been taken into police custody. There have been no reports of any shots fired or any injuries to officers or members of the public. Officers remain at the scene and further inquiries are ongoing.”

Police said they did not believe it was a terrorist-related incident, and said the suspect’s mental health history was being examined.

Dog breeder Huber, of remote Bank Gate Farm home at North Stainmore in Cumbria, has competed at the world famous Crufts dog show in the past.

He appeared at Carlisle Crown Court on Friday 3 November having been charged with offences committed both in London and his Cumbrian home.

During the hearing in front of Judge Michael Fanning, he pleaded guilty to six charges. Two relate to the Buckingham Palace incident.

The first is having an article with a blade or point — a lock knife — in a public place, namely outside Buckingham Palace. The second relates to possession of ammunition —  two .22 long rifle calibre shotgun cartridges — without a valid firearms certificate. Both 2 May in London.

Four other charges relate to offences committed in Cumbria days after the Buckingham Palace incident.

These are two counts of possessing ammunition without a firearms certificate — some 244 .22 long rifle calibre shotgun cartridges on 8 May; and, 10 days later, 214 of the same type of cartridge.

Possession of prohibited weapon — namely a stun gun disguised as a torch, designed or adapted for the discharge of any noxious liquid, gas or other thing. And possession of a prohibited weapon — an acrylic ASP baton — in a private place, both also on 8 May.

During a 10-minute court hearing Huber spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and to enter his guilty pleas.

This was after his barrister, Daniel Bramhall, confirmed that Huber had previously been deemed fit to plead following a doctor’s appointment.

Mr Bramhall asked for the case to be adjourned so that Huber could speak to the doctor again, and also attend an interview with a probation officer.

Judge Fanning also asked Humber’s legal team to prepare a formal written basis for the entry of his admissions. “It would be useful to have that information,” the judge had said. “(To know) whether there was a time when the defendant could have been in lawful possession of that ammunition. I’m very interested how he comes to have that at all.”

Huber’s case was adjourned for the preparation of background information.

He was granted conditional bail and is due to be sentenced by a judge at the city crown court in 19 January.

“I am ruling nothing out,” Judge Fanning told Huber. “Possession of ammunition and possession of a firearm, which the disguised stun gun is, are really serious matters that can carry imprisonment.”

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...