Just throw yourself at their mercy , explain what happened and say how thoroughly disappointed you are in yourself for not checking and taking the word of a friend you trusted and getting it wrong , the consequences of which are you losing your application free , days wages and the possibility o having a shotgun license and the possibility to join in your friends and family on their days out pheasant shooting etc . Don't get into slagging your friebd off for duff advice because they won't care. End of the day act grown up and hold your hands up to it . Maybe they will decide you've been punish