Wolverhampton man acquitted of gun charge despite admitting crime
A man has been acquitted of a serious firearms offence despite admitting to police that he committed the crime.
Nikki Johnson made the admission 12 days after a .375 Magnum revolver and ammunition that expands on impact, causing 'massive trauma,' were discovered during a drugs raid on an address in Hurstbourne Crescent, Eastfield.
The 41-year-old, who had not been a suspect in the case, told a detective he had taken the lethal gun to the address the day before it was found.
The sworn statement - made voluntarily in the presence of his solicitor after he walked into a Wolverhampton police station - said: "I took the bag to the address.
"When I realised what was in the bag I wanted to dispose of it but never had the chance."
He claimed to have 'found' the bag in Drummond Street, West Park.
'Forced to take blame'
But seven months later he told a preliminary hearing of the case at Wolverhampton Crown Court that he had lied, and pleaded not guilty to illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Johnson said he had been forced to take the blame to repay a debt owed to his drug dealer but failed to turn up for his trial which went ahead in his absence when police could not trace him.
Officers had to force entry to the flat which was unoccupied when officers launched the drugs raid on November 24 2016 and found the Magnum and two rounds of ammunition in a supermarket bag by the lounge fireplace.
Seven more bullets - one of which was spent - were discovered in a silver case 'tucked away' behind the sofa, said Mr Peter Arnold, prosecuting.
The woman who lived there was subsequently arrested along with her boyfriend.
Seven months for a rethink
Johnson, who lived in Tettenhall Road, Chapel Ash, made his admission five days after the boyfriend had been detained, the court heard.
Mr Arnold maintained: "It took the defendant seven months to have a rethink but there is no evidence to support this change of mind."
But Mr Simon Williams, defending, stressed that no fingerprint of Johnson was found on the bag which held the gun and there was no DNA match with him on the Magnum.
The lawyer continued: "People will tell lies when put under pressure. He was only able to provide very basic information in his initial statement because he knew nothing about it."
The jury unanimously found the defendant not guilty of possession of a prohibited firearm together with expanding and lead ammunition.
The woman occupant of the flat, who was arrested on January 8 last year, and her boyfriend had criminal proceedings against them dropped earlier this month through lack of evidence.
