A 20-year-old drug dealer who sold cannabis on the streets from the age of 14 has been jailed for attempting to sell a potentially deadly gun. Lewis Hanson, who was shot in the elbow by a police firearms officer during his arrest in Whitefield, Bury, also sold cocaine.
Judge's sentencing remarks
A judge said it was 'frankly terrifying' that someone of his age could run a 'drugs enterprise' and seek to sell the weapon - a modified Retay 17 blank firing pistol similar in design to a Glock 17. It was manufactured in Turkey as a blank firing pistol, but had been converted to discharge live rounds, although the weapon was found not to be able to self-load, a court heard.
Judge Fiona Clancy, detaining Hanson at a young offender institution, hit out at the 'gravity' of gun crime nationally in her sentencing remarks. "Guns kill," she said. "Sentencing courts must address that there are too many lethal weapons too readily available. Young children have lost their lives because somebody has used a prohibited weapon sold in this way."
Addressing Hanson, she added: "You wanted to sell the weapon. You were reckless as to whether it would be used. Guns are sold to criminals for use. That's the reality"
Drugs enterprise and arrest
Judge Clancy said drug-dealing causes 'misery and deprivation' and told him: "You chose to engage in this offending for your own financial gain. There is no evidence that the firearm was actually sold or used. It was not found loaded, but it was found with blank-firing ammunition."
Manchester Crown Court heard on Thursday (April 27) that Hanson exploited a co-defendant and 'exploited his drug habit'. Paul Houghton, 40, who allowed Hanson to use his flat to store cannabis and cocaine, was handed a suspended prison sentence on Wednesday. Houghton, of Roch Crescent, Whitefield, pleaded guilty to permitting his premises to be used for the sale of class A and class B drugs. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years.
The court heard on Thursday that voice notes on a mobile phone proved the conspiracy to sell the weapon. One written by Hanson said 'leave it with me r kid. I will get rid of it for you'.
Police investigation and sentence
Caleb Suggitt, prosecuting, said police had been carrying out observations of Hanson, who was driving a white Cupra Ateca, on May 22 this year. He was seen visiting flats on Chapelfield in Radcliffe, Bury, in particular a flat owned by Houghton where drugs were stored. Mr Suggitt said police stopped Hanson's car at 3.10pm at the junction of Bury New Road and Chestnut Avenue in Whitefield. The prosecutor said that during the course of Hanson's detention, 'one of the attending armed officers felt compelled to discharge his firearm'. He was shot to the elbow and taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary.
Following searches of Hanson's car and the flat, police seized £3,520 worth of drugs. They also found the gun in a bedroom of the flat. Police searched the home where Hanson lived with his mother, the court heard. Officers found two black face coverings, an anti-spy radio detector, described as being a 'portable device designed to locate hidden microphones, wireless cameras, and GPS trackers by scanning for radio frequencies', as well as a lock knife. Officers seized a Gucci sweatshirt with the £1,150 price tag still attached. Receipts relating to the purchase of designer clothing worth just over £1,000 were also discovered.
Hanson, of Parr Lane, Bury, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of a class B drug, conspiracy to sell a prohibited weapon, possessing a prohibited firearm, possessing ammunition without a firearm certificate, possession of a class A drug with intent to supply, and possession of a class B drug with intent to supply. He was sentenced to a total of 82 months - just under seven years - in a young offender institution.
Police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) previously said it has launched an investigation into the firearms operation which ended in Hanson being shot. Judge Clancy told Hanson: "Clearly your drugs offending was providing you with a significant amount of money. You ran your own successful drugs enterprise. You are said to have employed a worker and a driver to assist in your dealing. You made significant amounts of money from it."
Detective Superintendent Joe Harrop, of GMP's Serious Crime Division, said Hanson 'attempted to evade capture' and failed to comply with instructions at the scene. An officer fired a single shot. Speaking after the case, he said: "Hanson played a key role in the supply of illegal drugs throughout Bury and beyond, our investigation uncovered evidence of drug dealing and with the recovery of a prohibited firearm at an address linked to him. Ammunition and drug supply paraphernalia were also found, underlining the lengths he may have gone to, to protect his interests. The presence of a converted firearm in these circumstances is deeply concerning and demonstrates the dangerous environment often associated with organised criminal activity. Drug dealing and firearms have a devastating impact on our communities. They fuel exploitation, violence and fear, and we know that residents want this type of criminality removed from their area, and we are doing all we can to do exactly that."
