Bomb squad called to dealer’s home after weapons discovery
THE bomb squad raced to a drug dealer’s house after a sawn-off shotgun and hand grenade were found in his loft by police.
Anthony Lutkevitch, 31, was being paid by an unknown man to store the weapons at the property on Tonge Street in Heywood.
Police found the gun and ‘Russian’ explosive in the attic after executing a warrant in July last year.
Bomb disposal experts had to be called. A controlled explosion was carried out.
Officers also found a ‘large amount’ of cannabis and ketamine, worth around £17,000 on the streets, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
Lutkevitch has now been jailed.
A judge was told he dealt drugs ‘prolifically’ for nine years.
Prosecutor Jon Close told the court police executed a warrant at the defendant’s then-home in Heywood on July 2, 2020.
“The search of the address took police to the loft and inside the loft they saw a long metal object poking out from a draw string bag,” he said.
“It became immediately apparent that this was a shotgun. The cover for the shotgun in the same bag was then found to have a hand grenade inside it so the bomb disposal unit was called.
“While waiting for them to arrive, officers continued searching the property and found drugs, drug paraphernalia and at least six mobile phones.
“There was also a knuckle duster in the kitchen.”
Police found some green ‘vegetable matter’ in a rucksack.
Texts were found on Lutkevitch’s phones, which proved he had been dealing drugs for ‘some considerable time.’
“The defendant was a prolific cannabis dealer,” Mr Close added.
After his arrest, Lutkevitch told police he was being paid to store the weapons at his house, though he would not name the person giving him cash.
Defence lawyer Anthony
Morris said his client, who has no previous convictions, had received threats ‘early on’ in his drug dealing operations, which landed him in ‘deeper water.’
“Pressure was being put on him for a time that came from those above him,” he added.
Sentencing, Judge Angela Neild said it was ‘not unusual’ for people to appear in court charged with both firearm and drug dealing offences.
“Sadly, the world of drug dealing, whether class A, B, or C, is a dangerous business and firearms often play their parts for all sorts of reasons,” she added.
“This is to the detriment of many in society today.
“It’s fair that those who appear in respect of offences like these are dealt with seriously by the courts.”
Lutkevitch, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm without a firearm certificate; possession of a prohibited weapon; and two counts of possession with intent to supply class B drugs.
He was jailed for four years and four months.