For concealing guns and ammunition under the wardrobe
A 23 year old mother was been sentenced to 5 years in jail at Kingston Crown Court on 15/12/2009 after police found three guns and a stash of ammunition in her Isleworth flat.
As part of a proactive intelligence led operation, detectives from the Met’s Serious and Organised Crime Command searched Marlena Ocran’s home address of Primrose Place, Isleworth, TW7 on 30 June 2009. A police dog conducted the initial search of the flat and indicated at an area under a freestanding bedroom wardrobe to its handler. Officers removed the bottom drawer and found a number of plastic bags containing firearms and ammunition. A search of the bags revealed a Baikal semi-automatic pistol, eight rounds of ammunition together with a magazine, a small bore shotgun, a browning semi-automatic pistol and seventy two shotgun cartridges.
The flat itself was empty of occupants and there was little furniture or personal belongings to be seen, suggesting that no-one was currently living there. Police continued on to a second address in Brabazon Road, believed to be where Ocran was currently staying with family and arrested her on suspicion of possession of firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life. Ocran was taken to a South London police station where she was interviewed and admitted that she was the tenant of Primrose Place, but claimed not to have seen or handled any firearms. She was charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and was bailed pending further enquiries.
Less than five days later, police received a 999 call from a worried Ocran, stating that she had lied to police during her interview and wished to tell the truth about her involvement. Ocran was visited by detectives and re-arrested on 7 July 2009. During her second interview, Ocran admitted that she had known about the existence of firearms and ammunition in her flat but had made no efforts to contact police. She claimed throughout the interview that two other people had access to the flat and she had provided them with keys and they could have placed the firearms there. Ocran was re-arrested and charged with a further two offences; possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life and possession of a shortened shotgun.
Forensic analysis of the firearms revealed that Ocran’s fingerprints were present on the shotgun cartridge box and that the Baikal was a Russian made self loading pistol which had been converted to fire .38 rounds together with the silencer.
Ocran pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm, ammunition and shortened shotgun at Kingston Crown Court.
Detective Inspector Steve Ellen from the Met’s Serious and Organised Crime Command said; “Ignorance is no excuse for storing firearms and ammunition. The MPS is committed to tackling anyone believed to be in possession of a gun and this carries a minimum term of five years in prison.”
December 17, 2009
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