A FORMER North Yorkshire giftshop owner who fired his cannons at a seaside resort to welcome historic ships said that a conviction for breaching his firearms certificate had devastated his life.

Peter Budd, admitted three breaches of his certificate at Scarborough Magistrates' Court - one for firing his specially made cannons to celebrate Lord Nelson's birthday.

He said his plans to stand as a councillor and start a political career were in tatters because he had been branded a "criminal who misuses firearms".

The court heard how Budd's licence only allowed him to fire the four bronze cannons from a battery overlooking Whitby Harbour. He used the specially -made guns to greet historic ships such as the replica of Captain Cook's Endeavour.

Budd, 53, breached the terms of his licence by using the cannons aboard another replica historic ship, The Grand Turk, once in Whitby and twice in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs.

Budd said the stigma and the criminal record had wrecked his life.

He said: "I am now a criminal who misuses firearms. This has destroyed every aspiration I have for this life. As far as I know this means I can't go to America, I can't emigrate to New Zealand, I can't look after children and I can't hold public office."

Budd, of Church Street, Whitby, said he had now written to the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire, Della Cannings, to ask for his cannons back.

He said they were seized by officers six months ago. The four cannons were made in Saltburn, near Whitby. Budd said he got the idea when The Endeavour first came to Whitby in 1997 and thousands of people turned out to watch it.

Updated: 09:57 Saturday, April 16, 2005