Two men caught with weapons in Trafford have been jailed for a combined total of 10 years. Demario Griffiths, 21, and Cullen Hinds, 19, were caught after police tracked an e-bike across Stretford on July 4 last year.
Police Respond to Reports of Armed Youths
Officers were alerted at around 11.05pm to reports of youths wearing balaclavas, dressed in all-black clothing and carrying weapons on e-bikes. Police then found CCTV footage of a bike matching the description given by a concerned member of the public.
Officers tracked the bike across the area, with the last sighting on Chester Road by the junction of Great Stone Road. Armed police descended on the scene and carried out a search of the area, Greater Manchester Police said. The e-bike was found in the garden of a property on Chester Road.
Arrests and Discovery of Firearm
Officers entered through the back door and found four men, all dressed in black, in the living room, including Griffiths and Hinds. Griffiths tried to flee but was stopped by officers. Police then found a firearm in his bag, which was later revealed to be a converted self-loading pistol.
Griffiths was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon. Hinds was also arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm. Due to DNA evidence, Hinds was further arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon in November.
Sentencing at Manchester Crown Court
On May 12 this year, Hinds, of Trafford, was found guilty of possession of a firearm following a trial at Manchester Crown Court. He was sentenced to five years in a young offender's institute. Griffiths, of Trafford, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and was sentenced to five years in prison on June 26.
Detective Constable James Artherton said: "Weapons have no place on our streets and we will always come for those carrying out such offences and bring them to justice. Our communities deserve to feel safe as they go about their daily lives without fear, and we will continue our work to protect them."
