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| Gun seized in Merseyside is 'most criminally used firearm in Britain' | Gun seized in Merseyside is 'most criminally used firearm in Britain' |
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| A gun seized by police after a shooting in Merseyside is “the most criminally used firearm in Britain”, prosecutors have said. | A gun seized by police after a shooting in Merseyside is “the most criminally used firearm in Britain”, prosecutors have said. |
| Speaking during a court hearing, lawyers said the firearm had been used in 19 shootings in the past seven years, more than any other known gun in the UK. | |
| The Beretta 9000S self-loading pistol was found by officers investigating a shooting in Kirkby in which a gunman fired at a vehicle in what is thought to have been a targeted attack. | The Beretta 9000S self-loading pistol was found by officers investigating a shooting in Kirkby in which a gunman fired at a vehicle in what is thought to have been a targeted attack. |
| Police discovered the gun when they raided the home of 24-year-old Adam Bigley the following day. There is no evidence the weapon was used in the Kirkby shooting. | Police discovered the gun when they raided the home of 24-year-old Adam Bigley the following day. There is no evidence the weapon was used in the Kirkby shooting. |
| Bigley admitted possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition without a firearm certificate and was jailed for six years and nine months at a separate hearing on Thursday. His DNA, along with that of at least three others, was found on the safety catch of the weapon. | |
| Defending, Andrew Alty cautioned that his client was being sentenced for his possession of the gun and not for its historical use. “That is nothing to do with him,” he said. | Defending, Andrew Alty cautioned that his client was being sentenced for his possession of the gun and not for its historical use. “That is nothing to do with him,” he said. |
| “Both his parents were spoken to, he lives in their house, and both said they suspected he came back with it the day before because he came back with a bag. His intention was to hand the weapon back to the person who originally gave it to him. He only had possession of it for one day.” | “Both his parents were spoken to, he lives in their house, and both said they suspected he came back with it the day before because he came back with a bag. His intention was to hand the weapon back to the person who originally gave it to him. He only had possession of it for one day.” |
| Earlier this year, Merseyside police issued appeals to combat a spike in gun crime in the region. As of 16th August, there had been 60 firearms incidents resulting in 3 fatalities and 26 injuries in Merseyside. That compares to 87 incidents in the whole of 2016, 2 of which were fatal and 34 of which caused injury. | |
| Sentencing Bigley, Judge Norman Wright said gun crime in Liverpool was an extremely serious problem. “It is disquieting to know that this particular firearm had been used on 19 previous occasions,” he said. “You of course will know that firearms, particularly pistols of this sort, are extremely highly valued in criminal organisations. | Sentencing Bigley, Judge Norman Wright said gun crime in Liverpool was an extremely serious problem. “It is disquieting to know that this particular firearm had been used on 19 previous occasions,” he said. “You of course will know that firearms, particularly pistols of this sort, are extremely highly valued in criminal organisations. |
| “They are not something that is just freely passed around. Being so valuable, only extremely trusted people are asked to mind or hold these sort of weapons. The conclusion I draw in this case is you were someone who was highly trusted by the owners or principal users of this firearm; that is why it was given to you.” | “They are not something that is just freely passed around. Being so valuable, only extremely trusted people are asked to mind or hold these sort of weapons. The conclusion I draw in this case is you were someone who was highly trusted by the owners or principal users of this firearm; that is why it was given to you.” |
| Speaking after the sentencing, DI Elaine Coulter said: “Once again working with our communities we have taken a lethal weapon from the streets of Merseyside. | Speaking after the sentencing, DI Elaine Coulter said: “Once again working with our communities we have taken a lethal weapon from the streets of Merseyside. |
| “Those people who are found in possession of firearms are committing an extremely serious offence. Whether they intend on using them or not, looking after or storing them makes it easier for other criminals to commit serious crime. | “Those people who are found in possession of firearms are committing an extremely serious offence. Whether they intend on using them or not, looking after or storing them makes it easier for other criminals to commit serious crime. |
| “Bigley is now facing a long time in prison and I hope this sentence makes other people realise that possessing firearms of any type carries huge risks and is simply not worth it.” | “Bigley is now facing a long time in prison and I hope this sentence makes other people realise that possessing firearms of any type carries huge risks and is simply not worth it.” |