Man jailed after loaded firearm is discovered in car stopped by police
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Body worn footage shows the moment officers discover a loaded firearm in a vehicle after it was stopped by police.
On the evening of 21 August last year, a white Toyota Pruis taxi was carrying four men into the city centre when it was stopped by police in traffic on Blackbird Road near to the junction with A6 Abbey Lane, Leicester.
Tyo Carter was detained from the rear passenger seat under the Misuse of Drugs Act along with the three other passengers.
As Carter was searched nearby, he was found to be possession of what was suspected to be class A and B drugs and therefore arrested.
An officer then carried out a search of the vehicle and found a bag in the footwell where Carter had been sitting.
On opening the bag, he found a self-loading pistol. Further examination of the firearm found it to be fully loaded.
All five men, who had been in the vehicle, were arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a firearm and taken into custody.
During questioning by detectives, Carter remained silent however he was forensically linked to the recovered weapon and examination of his mobile phone found evidence of drug dealing.
The four other men were all released with no further action while Carter, 22, of Brunswick Road, Birmingham was charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of ammunition, possession of a firearm for onward sale and possession with intent to supply class A drugs namely cocaine and possession of class B drugs namely cannabis.
On Monday 10 February, at the start of his trial at Leicester Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to the offence of possession of a firearm, which was accepted, alongside the original drugs and ammunition charges as well as possession of a firearm for onward sale.
He was sentenced today (Friday 9 May) to a total of 10 years in prison.
Detective Constable Lucy Clarke, who was the investigating officer, said: “Despite Carter denying all knowledge of the gun when questioned by detectives, he has clearly accepted his connection to it with his guilty plea.
“Our examination of Carter’s mobile phone also revealed that a week prior to his arrest, he has been trying to source ammunition while offering the sale of another firearm. This just shows the obvious interest that Carter had in handling and being in possession of such weapons and ammunition and we strongly believe that the gun was loaded with the intention of being fired to cause serious harm or even worse a fatality.”
Detective Sergeant Chris Sewell from the EMSOU Serious Organised Crime unit added: “The discovery of this gun is one less weapon on our streets and while gun crime isn’t a high-volume crime for our force, it’s still the removal of one gun too many.
“This case demonstrates that we remain committed to tackling such serious offences carried out in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and putting those responsible before the courts to face punishment for their actions.”
Recorder Blakey passing sentence today at Leicester Crown Court made the following comments.
They said: “Those who deal in drugs, particularly street dealing, find themselves in real difficulties in terms of their liberty. A message has to go out to those, like you, who attempt to get into that life for a quick turn of money, that it isn’t worth it because you will go to prison. Unfortunately for you that is what is going to happen to you today.
“Your offending was compounded by the fact you were found to have a loaded weapon, with a bullet in the chamber. That weapon, in other hands, created a serious risk of violence if not death if used by others. Why else would anybody want a weapon like that, plus bullets? That exacerbates the situation you find yourself in.
“There is so much crime on the streets these days, and a lot of this to do with drugs. It creates a real problem in society. And society has to be protected from serious criminals. And in that regard, you are a serious criminal.”