Jail for man who had large stash of automatic weapon ammunition

Lewis Steward (20) said he was storing the 50 rounds of 9mm bullets for others, after he built up a drug debt.

But he was locked up for a year, after Judge Sean Enright said he believed the ammunition would be used by organised crime.

Edward Renvoize, prosecuting, told Peterborough Crown Court: “On January 12 2015 officers became aware of information that a parcel was being sent to L. Steward, and the parcel was believed to contain ammunition.

“On May 18 officers attended Steward’s mothers address, who said he was living with his father elsewhere.

“He admitted he had ammunition in his wardrobe. He was arrested.

“Five bullets were tested and found to operational. As a result it was assumed they would all be operational.

“He said he was holding the bullets for someone.”

Mr Renvoize added: “The ammunition found is used in automatic and semi automatic weapons. It is a serious matter.

“It must be right the bullets were for the distribution to others. They were for the use in criminal activity.”

Defending, Samantha Marsh said: “The defendant is very young, and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.
“He was very foolish. He had got involved with individuals he shouldn’t have, and accrued a drug debt. He was asked to take delivery of a package which would be collected later.

“He had no further knowledge of firearms, or involvement in any other way.

“He asks for leniency.”

Steward, of Essex Close, Huntingdon, was described as being ‘very vulnerable’, but Miss Marsh said he posed a low risk of re-offending. She added: “He has moved away from the individuals he was associating with, and knocked his cannabis on the head.”

But Judge Enright, sentencing, accepted Steward had been put under ‘some element of duress,’ but said only an immediate prison sentence was appropriate.

He said: “This is a very significant amount of ammunition for use in a dangerous weapon with no legal purpose, for use, it seems to me, in organised crime.

“Everyone must be clear that possession of ammunition in these circumstances can only lead to custody.”