A drug dealer with a stash of 'slam guns' with intent to endanger life has been jailed for 12 years. Tobias Holmes, aged 33, of HMP Nottingham, was sentenced on Friday (March 10) for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, and possession of ammunition without a firearm certificate.
Slam guns - also known as pipe guns – are an improvised firearm.They don’t have a trigger and instead work by a barrel being inserted into the main barrel connected to the butt. A shotgun cartridge is then inserted into the floating barrel which is pulled back sharply forcing the cartridge onto a firing pan.
The crude, homemade weapons – which first emerged in the Philippines during World War II - are deadly but can also be dangerous to the user if they misfire.
The 12 years were handed down at Nottingham Crown Court, with lesser concurrent sentences on the remaining charges. The case came after officers executed a warrant in Coxmoor Court, Top Valley, on March 10, last year, believing there to be drugs inside the property.
After officers forced the door and drug equipment, including scales and deal bags, the guns and ammo, were found inside. The operation interrupted a coffee between Holmes, who lived at the address, and co-defendant James King, and both men were arrested.
Addressing, Holmes, Judge William Harbage said during the raid there were four sets of digital scales, plastic deal bags and a cutting agent for cocaine all found, and Holmes was in the process of producing crack cocaine. "In effect you had all the necessary equipment for a drug supply operation - save for the drugs themselves."
Holmes's address was used for the packaging and supply of Class A drugs. Police recovered two bags of firearms and ammunition. The fireams were fully functionung - made up of short lengths of pipe.
Officers found the bullets in a drawstring bag and metal pipes and cartridges in a bedroom - all capable of being put together to form at least three separate slam guns. DNA found after forensic analysis of the weapons led investigators to charge King, 65, of Townsend Court, Bestwood, with possession of a prohibited firearm and two others.
Ramari Blackwood, 23, of HMP Ranby, and Callum Arthur, 29, of no fixed address, were also charged with possession of a prohibited firearm. Following a two-and-a-half-week trial at Nottingham Crown Court, that concluded on Wednesday February 15, all four men were found guilty, and remanded in custody to await sentencing on Friday.
The three, King, Blackwood and Arthur, each received eight years in prison, and all defendants will serve two-thirds before their release. The judge said these three men were convicted of simple possession of three slam guns - and he believed they were regular visitors to Holmes's flat - and there was no lawful purpose for possessing such weapons.
'Firearms have deadly consequences'
Detective Constable Rich Naylor, who led the case on behalf of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This has been an extremely in-depth investigation and a lengthy trial which I’m happy to say has resulted in all four suspects being found guilty.
“From the moment we forced the door to Holmes’ flat, acting on vital intelligence we’d received, we’ve conducted a thorough investigation to get to the bottom of who was responsible for having the dangerous weapons and drugs. I want to thank all of the people involved in this case for their help over the last two years resulting in this outcome at court.
“Most importantly I want to send a strong message to anyone who believes it is acceptable, legal, or okay to have such weapons as a form of protection or even to contemplate using them, that this is simply not the case. Firearms have deadly consequences and bring a whole host of other criminality to neighbourhoods which is why we are so dedicated to doing everything we can to act on any reports and protect our communities.
“To anyone who believes they can possess such a weapon and drugs and that they’ll be able to go undetected – I hope this case shows that we won’t give up in hauling suspects in front of the courts no matter how much time has gone on or the complexity of the investigation."
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