A North Antrim man who was “preyed upon” by his neighbour to import a pistol from America walked free from court on Thursday with a suspended jail sentence.
Although Brian Hanna was handed an 18 month prison sentence at Antrim Crown Court, Judge Richard Greene KC said while the custody threshold had been past it was clear the 31-year-old was “vulnerable” and that his neighbour had “preyed upon him” which made the case exceptional and allowed him to suspend the sentence for 18 months.
Hanna, who suffers from cerebral palsy and is from Cafe Lane in Ballymoney, had earlier admitted attempting to possess a SIG P20 pistol, two 9mm magazines and 52 rounds of ammunition on 13 October 2020 and attempting to possess class C etizolam on the same date.
Read more: National Crime Agency arrests NI man “on suspicion of importing firearms in the post”
Last February his former neighbour, 40-year-old Kristopher Darren Scott, was handed a sentence of five years and four months, split 50/50 between jail and licence conditions, after he admitted attempting to possess the gun and having the class C drug with intent to supply.
Prosecuting counsel Michael Chambers outlined how Border Force officers at Stanstead Airport seized a parcel which claimed to have “Computing Gaming Parts, Computer Fans, and Motherboard” inside.
Whilst the parcel did contain the declared contents, it also contained a SIG P20 pistol, two 9mm magazines and 52 rounds of ammunition, said the lawyer who added that the parcel had been posted from Portland, Oregan in the USA.
There were “tweaks” to the addressee but the NCA ascertained the correct address was to be delivered to Hanna so opted to carry out a controlled delivery.
Mr Chambers said shortly after the parcel was delivered to Hannah’s home on 13 October, a covert listening device recorded a conversation with Scott to arrange collection and for Scott to “bring with him controlled drugs…presumably as payment”.
Shortly after that, police officers lying in wait spotted Scott arriving at the apartment and they arrested the men. While Hannah initially claimed he believed it was just computer parts being delivered, he later admitted knowing it was something illegal but not specifically that it was a gun.
He told cops he had agreed to help Scott “out of friendship and fear” of his co-accused.
Scott, who has 80 previous convictions including an entry for importing drugs, further claimed he had made an arrangement to pay £10,000 for ten pistols and that the seized Sig P20 was the first to be posted.
His case could not be published due to a reporting restriction but following a press application on Thursday that ban was lifted. Sentencing Hannah, Judge Greene told the court “it’s clear that this is an unusual case” but that in his case specifically, the overall facts warranted an exceptional sentence.
Reacting to the sentencing, the National Crime Agency issued a statement on Thursday saying they had worked with Homeland Security Investigations in the US to identify the shipper of the weapon as a 34-year-old from Oregon.
NCA Belfast Branch Commander David Cunningham said: “Kristopher Scott attempted to import a deadly firearm into Northern Ireland and thought that by using the postal system he would escape the attention of law enforcement. Bryan Hanna was complicit when he said his address could be used, and making sure Scott was alerted to its arrival.
“Through our joint working with partners in both the UK and US we were able to stop him from doing so, and ensure that both ends of this criminal conspiracy face justice. The NCA remains determined to do all we can to stop those who want to bring violence into our communities.”
Taylor Wilson, Border Force Assistant Director at Stansted Airport, added: “This was a concerted attempt to smuggle firearms into our country, demonstrating the lengths criminals will go to put profit before people’s lives. If this weapon entered our community it could have caused serious injury or death.
“Together with NCA and international partners, we remain dedicated to ensuring the border is secure and we are committed to ensuring the safety and security of our communities is paramount.
“We will continue to break any attempt to import deadly weapons into the UK and dismantle deadly supply chains.”
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