Man found with convertible firearm jailed

Alanzo Walker was jailed for three years at Nottingham Crown Court

A man who was caught carrying "a readily convertible firearm" has been jailed for three years.

Nottinghamshire Police said Alanzo Walker was intercepted in a taxi soon after leaving a gun store in Radford, Nottingham, where he was found in possession of a top-venting blank firer (TVBF).

The force said it was the first conviction of its kind in the county.

Walker, 20, previously of Coppice Road, Arnold, pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon, as well as charges of possessing ammunition, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, possession of cannabis with intent to supply, and being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

Officers seized this top-venting blank firer from Walker

Police said the defendant was on his way home with the pistol, which had been bought by another person, when he was stopped by officers on 14 March 2023.

The ammunition was discovered in a tray at his home, while a sock containing 30 bullets was also seized.

TVBFs were made illegal in February after tests found they were capable of being converted into viable handguns, with an amnesty held across England for people to hand over items.

A force statement said Walker was linked to drugs offences while on bail, leading to a raid of an address in Calverton in September 2024.

He pleaded guilty on Wednesday, when a trial had been due to start at Nottingham Crown Court, and he was sentenced on Friday.

Det Insp Lisa Jones said Walker's conviction "represented the first of its kind for Nottinghamshire Police and followed a fantastic investigation".

She said: "Whatever his reasoning for carrying the pistol that day, Walker's decision to do so was reckless in the extreme and completely unacceptable."