Gunmen Jailed After Police Find Converted Firearm in Car

Armed passengers intercepted on city streets after officers uncovered a viable firearm, ammunition and cash during a police stop that ended a dangerous journey.

Two men who refused to stop for police while travelling around Wolverhampton with a converted firearm in the back of their car have been jailed for five years each.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that Tyreique Hislop, 22, of New Meadow Road, Telford, and Omari Johnson-Thomas, 24, of Codsall, were passengers in a Skoda Kodiaq which attracted police attention on April 15 last year in the Monmore Green and Parkfields areas of the city.

Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, which continued to drive before being pursued through residential streets. The Skoda was eventually boxed in by four police cars and brought to a halt near Goldthorn Hill.

A search of the vehicle uncovered a firearm concealed inside a carrier bag on the rear seat. Forensic examination later confirmed that the weapon had been converted and was capable of firing. Officers also recovered seven rounds of ammunition and £1,000 in cash during further searches.

Both men were arrested at the scene and charged following enquiries by West Midlands Police. The court was told the stop took place during Operation Redfox, a proactive policing operation targeting areas identified as having an increased risk of serious violence across Wolverhampton.

Johnson-Thomas and Hislop each admitted possession of a firearm. Hislop also pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition.

Sentencing the pair, the judge imposed five years’ imprisonment on each defendant for the firearm offence and ordered them to pay a statutory victim surcharge. No separate sentence was passed for the ammunition offence, which was ordered to lie on file, and the ammunition was ordered to be destroyed.

Following the conclusion of proceedings at Wolverhampton Crown Court, West Midlands Police released custody images of both men.