Met police officer, 29, had his firearm collection seized over journal entries about Jack the Ripper and owning an 'arsenal' of weapons

By JAMES TOZER, NORTHERN CORRESPONDENT and GLYN BELLIS Published: 18:28, 9 July 2026 | Updated: 18:28, 9 July 2026 A Met police officer had his personal gun collection seized after colleagues found journal entries about Jack the Ripper and referring to an 'arsenal' of weapons, a court heard today. PC Dermot McCabe, 29, moved from his home in Wales to join the capital's police force. But Met colleagues forced entry to the law graduate's flat in London following fears for his well-being and found the journal, a judge was told. Entries which caused concern included references to notorious East London killer Jack the Ripper, Mold Crown Court heard. Others included 'We live and die by the gun' and 'I've become a force to be reckoned with', it was told. After the concerns were passed to North Wales Police, his firearms certificate was revoked and his guns and ammunition were seized, while he was placed on desk duties. Details of the case were spelt out after PC McCabe appealed against his licence revocation, claiming the entries had been taken out of context and there was nothing sinister.  Gareth Preston, representing North Wales Police, said concerns included his apparent 'reluctance to be candid and disclose the journal.'  PC Dermot McCabe, 29, (pictured arriving at court) had his gun collection seized after concern was raised over his journal entries PC McCabe had wanted to possess up to 2,000 rounds of ammunition, plus rifles and a shotgun, he said.  He had also referred to having a 'full arsenal of firearms with my armour.'  He was quizzed about having a ballistic helmet and said he had been doing 'market research.'  A journal entry in 2020 was headed 'McCabe's armour', the court heard. He had also written: 'I will become the best marksman in the country.'  Mr Preston said the journal hadn't been disclosed to doctors.  Giving evidence, PC McCabe said several pages about Jack the Ripper were written after visiting a museum in London. He denied they showed he had an 'obsession' with the Victorian killer.  PC McCabe insisted all his journal entries had an innocent explanation but admitted they could be 'misunderstood' He said that referring to being 'a force to be reckoned with' involved a term used in sports. It had been an expression used by his private school headmistress, he added.  'We live and die by the gun' referred to a collection of fictional Western short stories by William S Hubbartt, he said.  PC McCabe, from Conwy, added that he had 'a quirky sense of humour' and was a 'keen sports shooter'. He told his counsel, Simon Rogers, that he had been granted firearms and shotgun certificates in 2022 and was a member of gun clubs at Bangor and Colwyn Bay. 'I had a keen passion in joining gun clubs and taking part in shooting competitions,' he said.  'I was very pleased with my skills,' he declared.  The officer said he'd previously done fencing and archery.  'I am a suitable person to own firearms,' he insisted, accepting that his entries could be 'misunderstood'. Following an adjournment, Mr Rogers said PC McCabe withdrew the appeal.  Judge Nicola Jones, sitting with magistrates, ordered the officer to pay £5,000 costs.  She said: 'We make absolutely no finding whatsoever against Mr McCabe.  'It's the case North Wales Police have revoked his firearms and shotgun licences and there have been some issues aired in this court.  'But I wish to make it clear that we make no findings in law against or for Mr McCabe.  'What were seen by police were private journals going back to lockdown.  'He was a very young man and those journals were never intended to be seen by other people and by now the rifles, shotgun and ammunition will be seized.'  The judge said the officer was 'articulate, intelligent and polite.'  She added: 'There's more to this than meets the eye, not in a sinister way.'  The Metropolitan Police were approached for comment.