Jail terms for men found with shotgun in Dudley town centre
Two men who had a pump action shotgun in their car in Dudley town centre were today starting five-year jail sentences.
Police went to investigate the blue Ford Mondeo in Bull Street on February 1 because there was a strong smell of cannabis.
As they got closer to the vehicle, passenger Imran Ahmed, of Victoria Road, Tipton, ran away, while the driver Mohammed Rahman remained at the wheel. Mr Christopher Gibbons, prosecuting, said officers noted the 'alarmed and panicky demeanour' of Rahman, of Tudor Road, Tipton, before they saw the firearm in the car.
It was established that it was a 12 gauge small bore pump action shotgun, made by the Ithaca gun company in New York. Rahman, aged 31, was arrested and a firearms expert officer was then called.
After officers found a tracksuit top belonging to 33-year-old Ahmed near the Earl of Dudley pub, he was found and arrested in Westley Street.
In police interview, both men read prepared statements before answering no comment to other questions, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard. Ahmed had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to the possession a prohibited weapon. Rahman admitted the same charge.
Mr Balbir Singh, for Ahmed, highlighted his client pleaded guilty at an early opportunity.
Mr Tarlowchan Dubb, for Rahman, said he could put forward no evidence to convince the judge not to pass the minimum five-year term for the crime.
