Man jailed for firearms and drug offences

A man has been jailed for 10 years after officers stopped a taxi in Leicester and found a loaded gun and drugs.

Tyo Carter was a passenger in a vehicle that was halted by officers on Blackbird Road - near to the junction with A6 Abbey Lane - on 21 August 2023.

Leicestershire Police said he was forensically linked to the gun found in a bag in the car, and an examination of his phone "found evidence of drug dealing".

The 22-year-old, of Brunswick Road in Birmingham, was sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

On 10 February, just before a trial was due to start, police said Carter pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, possession of cannabis, possession of ammunition, and possession of a firearm for onward sale.

The force confirmed the four other men who were in the car when it was stopped were all released with no further action.

Det Con Lucy Clarke, the investigating officer in the case, said: "Despite Carter denying all knowledge of the gun when questioned by detectives, he has clearly accepted his connection to it with his guilty plea.

"Our examination of [his] mobile phone also revealed that a week prior to his arrest, he has been trying to source ammunition while offering the sale of another firearm.

"This just shows the obvious interest that [he] had in handling and being in possession of such weapons and ammunition and we strongly believe that the gun was loaded with the intention of being fired to cause serious harm or even worse a fatality."

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