My life has been hell for the past 5 years
TRADESMAN’S RELIEF AT BEING CLEARED OF GUN CHARGES
A PAINTER and decorator has spoken of his “nightmare” five years over serious gun charges that could have left him serving a hefty jail sentence.
Speaking outside Nottingham Crown Court after he and his coaccused were found not guilty, Aaron Tucker said he was delighted after the jury cleared them on every charge.
Mr Tucker, of New Basford, told how his last conviction was in 2012 and how he had carved out a career as a painter and decorator. He said: “I’ve been on this trial for five years. You can’t progress and can’t move forward.
“It affects your mental health, it really does. I’m delighted. I denied everything. I had nothing to do with it. It’s been a nightmare five years and I’m glad it’s over and I can move on with my life.”
Mr Tucker and others faced a lengthy trial, and tense wait for the jury’s not-guilty verdicts, for allegedly being involved in the onward movement of firearms and ammunition which were previously stolen in a burglary. Those on trial were not among the burglars who took the weapons and ammunition.
Three other men had violently burgled a farmhouse in Derbyshire and demanded keys to a safe. They took a shotgun, jewellery and cash, and left the occupants locked in a room to ensure there would be a delay before police were called.
The prosecution’s case was the defendants were only involved in what happened to the firearms after the burglary.
Curtis Dawes,
26, of Duke Street, New Basford, Aaron Tucker, 40, of Hollis Street,
New Basford, Maxwell Opoku, of Ellis Court, St Ann’s, Mohammed Waheed, 33, of Dominic Court, Stone, Staffordshire, Kylan Mcclaren, 32, of Lower Parliament Street/milton Street, Nottingham, Dean Haynes, 34, Whitehorse Road, Bircotes, and Daniel Greenwood, 31, of no fixed address, all pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to
It affects your mental health, it really does. I’m delighted [to have been acquitted].
Aaron Tucker
possess a shotgun with intent to cause a person to believe that unlawful violence will be used against him or another and were found not guilty by a jury yesterday. The shotgun was a reference to the gun taken in the burglary. Dean Haynes’ barrister, Rhodri James, told the Post on behalf of his client: “He is delighted to put the last five years behind him.” Defendants Mr Dawes and Mr Opoku faced a second allegation of possessing shotgun parts on June 23, 2017, and they were both found not guilty.
Mr Tucker was accused of further allegations alone, all denied and all met with not guilty verdicts, of: possessing two prohibited guns and ammunition without holding a current firearm certificate.
Dawes is now facing sentencing on August 30, however, after he pleaded guilty separately to two charges of possessing drugs with intent to supply.
Addressing the jurors, the judge made an exemption to further jury service for 10 years.