Drug dealer had pistol hidden under floorboard

During the search at Ryan Frederick’s home in Freemantle Avenue, Thatto Heath, they found both Frederick and an associate Nathan Mullen and a total of 23 separate bags of cannabis were recovered.

The Italian made Glock-type blank firing gun had been shortened and although work on re-boring the barrel had been poorly done it could be used.

“It had been converted into a lethal purpose weapon,” said Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, at a hearing as both men were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court.

“Both defendants were in the living room and Mullen was sat on a sofa and the pari had multiple snap bags of cannabis scattered around the sofa and also some on Mullen’s lap and on the arm of the sofa,” said Mr Blasbery.

“Also in the living room there was a large quantity of cash - £1,270 - scattered around the room. The officers searched the premises and located some mobile phones and a further quantity of cannabis.”

Liverpool Crown Court

Scales were also found and a bag of the adulterant benzocaine. Officers searched under the floorboards of an upstairs bedroom. “They found a tea-towel containing a plastic bag which had a Glock-Type firearm in it,” he said.

Forensic scientists found Frederick’s DNA on the magazine and an internal part of the weapon, which as it had been shortened was classed as a prohibited weapon, added Mr Blasbery.

He told the court that the cannabis recovered in the search had a street value of up to £1,447 and incoming and outgoing text messages on Mullen’s mobile phone relating to drug dealing.

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When interviewed Frederick, 22, made no comment. Mullen, also aged 22, said he had been his co-accused friend for a number of years but hardly ever saw him.

He said that shortly before the police raid on the afternoon of July 23, 2020 he had met Frederick and they walked to his home and sat on the sofa and he saw bags of cannabis and cash lying around.

Mullen said that they had a smoke and five minutes later the police burst in. He denied any knowledge of the firearm,

The court heard that he has four previous convictions for none for drugs. Frederick has six previous convictions, several for possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

Mullen, of Scholes Lane, Portico, and Frederick both pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply. Mullen also admitted being concerned in supplying the drug and Frederick pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited firearm.

The judge, Recorder Paul Taylor jailed Frederick, who appeared via video link from prison, for six years two months.

He told Mullen, who avoided an immediate jail sentence, that he had candidly accepted he had been dealing cannabis to make money for several days in July 2020. 

“You have no drug related convictions and there are signs that you are trying to make an honest living as a roofer,” he said.

He sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered him to pay a £1,000 fine at £50 a week.

His defence lawyer Michael Hagerty said that he had only been 20 at the time of the offences and has since changed his lifestyle. He had been “refreshingly candid” and had pleaded guilty.

He now has a stable relationship and a 11-month-old daughter and is earning good wages as a roofer. He no longer uses cannabis and has reduced his drinking.

Defence barrister Cheryl Mottram said that Frederick has an unenviable record but had pleaded guilty. He has been on remand since his arrest and has used his time constructively and is motivated to change his lifestyle.

“He fell into drugs at a young age and had struggled financially. He started dealing drugs to help his family and now appreciates it does not help other families.”

Miss Mottram said he had been storing the gun for others and it was not loaded and there was no ammunition.