Guns, cash and drugs were found during a police raid on a Nottingham property. Officers executed a warrant in Coxmoor Court, Top Valley, on March 10, believing there to be drugs inside the property.
Officers forced the door to the flat to discover Class A drugs, and drug equipment including scales and deal bags inside. The operation interrupted a coffee between Tobias Holmes, who lived at the address, and James King and both men were arrested.
Phones and cash were seized from both suspects. A number of slam guns, shotgun cartridges, ammunition and a handgun were also discovered.
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Officers found bullets in a drawstring bag and metal pipes and cartridges all capable of being put together to form at least three separate slam guns. DNA found after forensic analysis of the weapons led to two other men who were later arrested.
Tobias Holmes, aged 33, of HMP Nottingham, was charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, and possession of ammunition without a firearm certificate. James King, 65, of Townsend Court, Bestwood, was charged with possession of a prohibited firearm.
Ramari Blackwood, 23, of HMP Ranby, and Callum Arthur, 29, of no fixed address, were also charged with possession of a prohibited firearm. Following a two-and-a-half-week trial at Nottingham Crown Court that concluded on Wednesday February 15, all four men were found guilty and remanded in custody to await sentencing on March 10.
'Firearms have deadly consequences'
Detective Constable Rich Naylor, who led the case on behalf of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This has been an extremely in-depth investigation and a lengthy trial which I’m happy to say has resulted in all four suspects being found guilty.
“From the moment we forced the door to Holmes’ flat, acting on vital intelligence we’d received, we’ve conducted a thorough investigation to get to the bottom of who was responsible for having the dangerous weapons and drugs. I want to thank all of the people involved in this case for their help over the last two years resulting in this outcome at court.
“Most importantly I want to send a strong message to anyone who believes it is acceptable, legal, or okay to have such weapons as a form of protection or even to contemplate using them, that this is simply not the case. Firearms have deadly consequences and bring a whole host of other criminality to neighbourhoods which is why we are so dedicated to doing everything we can to act on any reports and protect our communities.
“To anyone who believes they can possess such a weapon and drugs and that they’ll be able to go undetected – I hope this case shows that we won’t give up in hauling suspects in front of the courts no matter how much time has gone on or the complexity of the investigation."
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