3 males sentenced over from
Formby, Southport and Bootle for firearms offences
MERSEYSIDE Police have confirmed that 3 men have been
sentenced to 21 and ˝ years for firearms offences.
Malcolm Graham, 19 years, of Albert Road, Southport, was sentenced to 11 years,
at Liverpool Crown Court, on 2 August 2016, for possession of a prohibited
firearm (a Baikal self loading pistol); possession of a firearm without a
firearms certificate; possession of ammunition without a firearms certificate
and 2 counts of Section 20 wounding.
Lewis Clarke, aged 18 years, of Southport Road, Formby, was sentenced to 7 and ˝
years after pleading guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm (Baikal self
loading pistol); possession of ammunition without a firearms certificate;
possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and possession of
ammunition with intent to cause fear of violence. He fired a blank firing pistol
which contained a homemade bullet during a dispute at a friend's house in
Gardner Road, Formby, on 14 May 2015.
Adam Mercer, 22 years, of Cullen Avenue, Bootle, was sentenced to
3 years for affray, and possession of a firearm without a firearms certificate
after pleading guilty.
Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Richie Jones,
said:- "The sentencing of these 3 offenders sends out a strong message to
those involved in gun crime; Merseyside Police is committed to taking those
involved in gun crime off the streets. Malcolm Graham and Lewis Clark were both
linked by DNA, photographs and video to a Baikal self loading pistol, which just
3 weeks before it came in to their possession had been used to murder Kevin
Wilson, on Smithdown Road, in February 2015. These 3 thought they were
untouchable and were seen in photographs on phones owned by Graham and Clarke
with the weapons. Mercer was also
videoed on the phone snorting cocaine off a
sawn off shotgun."
DI Richie Jones added:- "Alongside the firearms offences
Malcolm Graham was sentenced for 2 section 20 assaults, 1 was on a prison inmate
and the other was an assault on Adam Mercer. People like Malcolm Graham, and
those he associates with, have a complete disregard for each other, as you can
see from the assault on Mercer, let alone other members of the public. They use
fear, violence and intimidation to get what they want and think they can do what
they want without any come back. They couldn't be more wrong and I would like to
reassure the public that Merseyside Police is committed to taking people like
Graham and his associates off our streets, but we need the information to help
us do that. Tackling gun crime is a priority for Merseyside Police and we will
act on all information reported to us through Crimestoppers. Anyone with
information about gun crime, or those involved in any way with firearms, can
contact the Matrix Serious Organised Crime team on:- 0800 230 0600, or
Crimestoppers on:- 0800 555 111."
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