Birmingham man who threw loaded guns out of window during police raid is jailed

A man who tried to hide firearms from police by throwing them out of a bedroom window has been jailed for nine years.

Acting on intelligence, officers were executing a warrant at Dean Owen’s home in Copthorne Road, Kingstanding, when he was seen hurling a bag from an upstairs window in May this year. The bag landed in neighbouring gardens and when it was retrieved, police found it contained two loaded revolvers.

During a search of the property officers also recovered ammunition, a knuckle duster and extendable baton, as well as a small cannabis grow. Owen, aged 37, admitted possession of two firearms without a licence and two counts of possessing an offensive weapon at a hearing at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday (31 October).

He was sentenced today (Tuesday, 1 November) to a nine-year jail term. He had earlier also admitted charges of possessing and cultivating cannabis.

What has West Midlands Police said?

Detective Inspector Michelle Cordell of Force CID said: “Sadly, the criminal use of firearms continues to have a devastating impact within our communities. We are committed to working with communities, and the intelligence they provide, to remove these potentially lethal firearms from our streets.

“In doing so, we prevent their future use in crime. Owen’s sentence sends a clear message that this type of criminality will not be tolerated and that wherever possible, offenders will be brought to justice though our criminal justice system”.