A man was caught "minding" a shotgun as police investigated a reported kidnapping.
Officers followed a trail of blood through the streets and located an injured Vaughan Lane, then discovered the firearm and ammunition stashed in a duffle bag in a "doss house".
Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Thursday, that Merseyside Police received reports of a "kidnapping in progress" on Overdene Walk in Kirkby on April 20 2021. Katy Appleton, prosecuting, described how officers noticed a trail of blood which they followed to a block of flats on nearby Hadleigh Road.
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Lane was then found in one property with an injury to his hand after being assaulted. The 27-year-old - of Cook Street in Liverpool city centre - was in the bathroom cleaning this wound, with a set of keys to a neighbouring unit also located in this room with blood on them.
A search of this apartment revealed a single-barrelled shotgun and four compatible cartridges hidden inside a duffle bag. The weapon was said to be in "fairly good condition" and "appeared viable".
Lane's DNA was found on the trigger guard and the ammunition. The dad was taken to Aintree Hospital for treatment, and after his arrest claimed: "It's got nothing to do with me, I just stay there from time to time."
He then said under interview that he had been "confronted by people he thought seemed to have knowledge of the firearm" and told detectives he had been "receiving threatening messages and phone calls". Lane - who has one previous conviction for battery in 2019, for which he was fined - also described the flat where then gun was located as a "doss house".
The volunteer kids' football coach later confessed that he "had the keys to the address where the shotgun was located and would stay there from time to time", adding that he "knew the shotgun and cartridges were in the property and handled them briefly" having been "asked to mind it". However, he would not name the gun's owner "for fear of reprisals".
Callum Ross, defending, told the court: "This defendant was simply minding the weapon on behalf of others. He was in fear of reprisals and therefore unwilling to name anyone.
"He did not have knowledge of what others were or weren't to do with that weapon. He is lightly convicted and he now has a young daughter.
"His family and he have moved to a new area as a result of this case and the difficulties the defendant has had as a result of that. He does express a high level of regret for his involvement.
"He does demonstrate an understanding of how these offences are detrimental to society. He is in a very different position now to the position he found himself in.
"He has been struggling with his mental health. He is finally getting assistance in that regard, which he says is making a difference to him.
"References perhaps show a different side of the defendant. He wishes to move forwards with his life."
Lane admitted possession of a firearm. He nodded as he was jailed for 28 months, with forfeiture and destruction of the shotgun and cartridges also ordered.
Sentencing, Recorder Alex Leach KC said: "In my judgement, you knew you were holding the firearm on behalf of those who intended to use it for criminal purposes. You did so under a level of coercion."
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