Loaded gun and knife in dealer’s car
NINE YEARS’ JAIL FOR MAN FOUND WITH MODIFIED PISTOL
POLICE found a modified handgun capable of causing a “potentially fatal injury” and a lock-knife when they searched a drug dealer’s car.
Marlon Dean was asleep in a lay-by in the black Audi near Burnaston when officers stopped to investigate and discovered the weapons, together with drugs.
He has been jailed for nine years.
A MAN who was found with a loaded handgun in a Derbyshire lay-by has been jailed for nine years.
Marlon Dean, of no fixed address, was asleep in a black Audi A3 in a layby off the A516 Etwall Road near Burnaston by police on November 3.
In the car, police found a modified handgun loaded with ammunition, as well drugs and a lock knife. The 29-year-old had been under investigation for previous drug offences from more than a year before.
Sarah Slater, prosecuting, said Dean had come to police attention in May 2019, when he was seen trying to escape when police raided a property in Moss Street, Derby.
“He jumped out the rear window,” she said. “An officer chased after him. He was then found trying to climb out of the neighbour’s garden.”
When officer’s retraced his steps they found some loose brown powder and clingfilm wraps. Inside was cash and drugs with a street value of around £1,150, as well as a phone which showed he was involved in “streetlevel supply of crack and heroin”.
While police were continuing to investigate this, Dean was arrested again. “Two officers were driving along the A516 at around 2.50am,” Ms Slater said. “They saw a black Audi abandoned in a lay-by and a male asleep in the rear seat.
“When they woke him, he opened the door to speak to them. He said he was having a rest and needed to catch up on some sleep.” Police searched the vehicle and found wraps of cannabis, cash and a lock knife. They also found a handgun that had a detachable magazine loaded.
Investigations later found it had been modified from firing blank cartridges to being able to fire live rounds. The cartridges had been modified to allow steel bearings to be put inside.
“The forensic officer fired that handgun,” she said. “They found a projectile could be discharged to cause a potentially fatal injury.”
When Dean was taken into custody, officers found wraps of heroin and crack cocaine in his boxer shorts.
Dean later pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited firearm, possession of a bladed article and three counts of possession of a controlled drug of class A with intent to supply.
Stephen Cobley, mitigating, said Dean had been “in a tough place” when he was found with the firearm. “He had lost his home,” he said. “He lost his relationship and ended up living in a car. All his worldly possessions plus the gun were in the back of the car. The gun didn’t belong to him.
“The defendant is remorseful, which is illustrated by his early admission of wrongdoing. He was out of serious trouble for five years before this.
“He landed his partner and the mother of his child in difficulties, this has weighed heavily and continues to weigh heavily on him.
“The time he has spent in custody has brought him clarity. He intends to make good use of it to return to society a better man.”
He was jailed for nine years by Recorder Adrian Reynolds at Derby Crown Court yesterday. “In your letter you say to me that you don’t expect me to read this and feel sorry for you or let you off in any way,” he said to Dean.
“I don’t feel sorry for you and I’m not going to let you off in any way. There are some people who have committed the sort of offences you have committed who even when they come to court are still full of defiance and self-justification.
“I don’t see that in you. I think you have had time and cause to reflect on your behaviour and I’m prepared to accept your remorse is genuine.
“You were selling drugs, almost certainly heroin and cocaine – although I’m only dealing with you in relation to heroin.
“You tried to escape from police, leaving behind heroin with a street value of £1,000.”
Recorder Reynolds said he appreciated the lengthy delay in the investigation into Dean and he was still under investigation when he was arrested more than a year later.
“You had a lock knife in your possession and, most seriously you had a loaded firearm,” he said. “That’s bad enough but what makes the case worse was that it was found with a magazine containing cartridges that had been modified.
“It’s been explained to me that for technical reasons this does not constitute prohibited ammunition but it’s still ammunition in the normal sense of the word.
“This was a loaded firearm with the potential to kill.”