Birmingham man facing jail after police swoop on property and find gun and ammunition

Anthony Patterson pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition at Birmingham Crown Court on May 20 and is set to be sentenced in June.                                

Patterson, 44 of Handsworth, was arrested in April by officers from the West Midlands Police Major Crime Proactive team following a warrant at an address in Handsworth.

On searching the address, officers found a Thompson submachine gun and 176 rounds of ammunition, with the gun being found in a toolbox in an upstairs bedroom at the property along with a bin bag containing the live ammunition.

The weapon and bullets were examined by experts, who confirmed they were live and viable.

Having not been inside the address when the warrant took place, Patterson handed himself in and was arrested on suspicion of possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of ammunition without certificate.

In interview, the force said Patterson answered no comment to all questions and was charged a short time later and remanded to appear at Birmingham Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty.

PC Richardson from the Major Crime Proactive team, said: "This was a significant recovery of a lethal automatic weapon and a significant quantity of ammunition which could have caused tremendous loss of life.

"We are committed to taking all weapons, including firearms, off the streets and will continue to take proactive action to arrest and prosecute the people who carry them.

"If you suspect someone you know might be storing a firearm, let us know either directly to us, or anonymously via Crimestoppers."