Police who raided the home of a St Helens drug dealer found a pistol hidden under the floorboards of a bedroom.
Ryan Frederick, 22, was in his living room after a smoke with associate Nathan Mullen, also 22, when police burst in. Their search would discover 23 bags of cannabis scattered around the pair, as well as a modified firearm stashed under the floorboards of an upstairs bedroom.
The weapon was a Italian made Glock-type gun that fired blanks, however it had been shortened and re-bored so that it could be fired like a normal firearm. Police also found scales, almost £1,300 in cash and a bag of the adulterant benzocaine.
READ MORE: Man once 'headed for jail' saved by girlfriend and the advice of a wise pub owner
When interviewed Frederick made no comment. Mullen said he had been his co-accused friend for a number of years but hardly ever saw him.
Frederick was jailed by the judge, Recorder Paul Taylor, for six years and two months. He has six previous convictions, several for possessing cannabis with intention to supply.
Prosecutor Paul Blasbery said: "Both defendants were in the living room and Mullen was sat on a sofa and the pair had multiple snap bags of cannabis scattered around the sofa and also some on Mullen’s lap and on the arm of the sofa. Also in the living room there was a large quantity of cash - £1,270 - scattered around the room.
"The officers searched the premises and located some mobile phones and a further quantity of cannabis.”
Mr Blasbery said that when officers searched under the floorboards on an upstairs bedroom they found "a tea towel containing a plastic bag which had a Glock-type firearm in it". Forensic scientists found Frederick's DNA on the magazine and an internal part of the weapon, he added.
Mr Blasbery told Liverpool Crown Court the amount of cannabis found had a street value of up to £1,447.
Defence barrister Cheryl Mottram said Frederick has an unenviable record but had pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply. He has been on remand since his arrest and has used his time constructively and is motivated to change his lifestyle.
She said: "He fell into drugs at a young age and had struggled financially. He started dealing drugs to help his family and now appreciates it does not help other families.”
She also said he had been storing the gun for others, and that it was not loaded and there was no ammunition loaded. Frederick also pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited firearm.
Mullen, who is from Scholes Lane, St Helens and has four previous convictions not related to drugs, denied any knowledge of the firearm. When interviewed he said that shortly before the police raid on July 23, 2020 he had met Frederick then walked to his home, where he saw bags of cannabis and cash lying around.
He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered to pay a £1,000 fine at the rate of £50 per week. He also admitted being concerned in supplying the cannabis and text messages related to drug dealing were found on his phone.
