Merseyside Police can confirm that three men have been sentenced to 21-and-a-half years for firearms offences.
Malcolm Graham, 19 years, of Albert Road, Southport, was sentenced to 11 years at Liverpool Crown Court today for possession of a prohibited firearm (a Baikal self-loading pistol); possession of a firearm without a firearms certificate; possession of ammunition without a firearms certificate and two counts of Section 20 wounding.
Lewis Clarke, aged 18 years, of Southport Road, Formby, was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm (Baikal self-loading pistol); possession of ammunition without a firearms certificate; possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and possession of ammunition with intent to cause fear of violence (he fired a blank firing pistol which contained a homemade bullet during a dispute at a friend’s house in Gardner Road, Formby on 14 May 2015).
Adam Mercer, 22 years, of Cullen Avenue, Bootle, was sentenced to three years for affray, and possession of a firearm without a firearms certificate after pleading guilty.
Following the sentencing today, Detective Inspector Richie Jones, said: “The sentencing of these three offenders today sends out a strong message to those involved in gun crime – Merseyside Police is committed to taking those involved in gun crime off the streets.
“Malcolm Graham and Lewis Clark were both linked by DNA, photographs and video to a Baikal self-loading pistol which just three weeks before it came in to their possession was used to murder Kevin Wilson on Smithdown Road in February 2015.
“These three thought they were untouchable and were seen in photographs on phones owned by Graham and Clarke with the weapons. Mercer was also videoed on the phone snorting cocaine off a sawn-off shotgun.”
DI Richie Jones added: “Alongside the firearms offences Malcolm Graham was sentenced for two section 20 assaults, one was on a prison inmate and the other was an assault on Adam Mercer.
“People like Malcolm Graham, and those he associates with, have a complete disregard for each other, as you can see from the assault on Mercer, let alone other members of the public.
“They use fear, violence and intimidation to get what they want and think they can do what they want without any come back. They couldn’t be more wrong and I would like to reassure the public that Merseyside Police is committed to taking people like Graham and his off our streets, but we need the information to help us do that.
“Tackling gun crime is a priority for Merseyside Police and we will act on all information reported to us through Crimestoppers. Anyone with information about gun crime, or those involved in any way with firearms, can contact the Matrix Serious Organised Crime team on 0800 230 0600, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
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