A SHELDON man has been jailed for firearms offences after police found an illegal gun and bullets in his car last year.
Luke Reilly from Garretts Green Lane, pleaded guilty in December and was jailed on Monday (March 5) for two years; he also was handed a forfeiture order, meaning he has to hand over all the materials for the firearm, ammunition and engineering materials.
The 29-year-old’s grey MG was stopped by police on Solihull Bypass on November 4 after officers had been alerted to suspicious items found in his rented room.
A cordon was placed around the Sheldon property and several homes were evacuated as a precaution. The Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team attended and following a forensic search of the property it was deemed safe.
The items found in Reilly’s room enabled him to make a gun – a black pistol – as well as ammunition.
Chief Superintendent Pete Henrick, commander at Birmingham East police, said: “Experts examined and test fired the handmade gun. It was found to be a viable firearm and therefore a lethal weapon in the wrong hands.
“Thankfully this gun and ammunition have been taken off the city’s streets and can no longer pose a danger to the public.
“The search of the Sheldon property caused concern to the other occupants of the address as well as those people who were also evacuated. I would like to thank them for their understanding and hope they are reassured by the sentenced handed to Reilly today.
“Unlicensed firearms are a danger to the public in the wrong hands, this is why West Midlands Police has taken steps with the recent firearms surrender to remove them from public circulation.”
Anyone with information about someone who has access to lethal weapons should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
