Man convicted of firearms offences

Date published: 31 October 2008

A 41-year-old man has, Thursday 30 October 2008, been convicted of a number of firearms offences following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

Christopher Payne (15/05/1967), of Wash Lane, Bury, was found guilty of possession of firearms with intent to endanger life, possession of a prohibited weapon without a licence and possession of ammunition without a certificate.

On Monday 27 October 2008, Fation Peqici (born 24/03/81), of Wash Lane, Bury, pleaded guilty to the same charges.

Both men are due to be sentenced on 28 November 2008.

The pair were arrested after officers from GMP's Xcalibre Organised Crime Unit stopped a Renault Laguna at the junction of Market Street and Atherton Road shortly after 7.30pm on Thursday 5 June 2008, and recovered five Russian Baikal Self Loading Pistols, silencers and ammunition.

Further searches of two addresses, one in Bury and another in Cheetham Hill, led to the recovery of more firearms, ammunition and drugs.