A passenger who threw a nitrous oxide cannister from a car window left police in disbelief with a subsequent, shocking admission that led to a five-year prison sentence.
'Startling' admission during traffic stop
Uzair Mohammed, aged 25, was a passenger in a Vauxhall Astra stopped by police in Spring Head, Wednesbury, on the evening of February 7. Officers in a marked vehicle, on patrol at around 9.40pm, saw an item being discarded from the car, which they believed to be nitrous oxide.
After pulling the vehicle over, they found Mohammed in the passenger seat. A balloon and a cannister of nitrous oxide, a Class C drug, were visible. As officers prepared to search him and asked if he had anything on him, Mohammed calmly stated he had a gun. The prosecutor, Amiee Parkes, told Wolverhampton Crown Court that the officer initially thought the defendant was being 'sarcastic'.
Converted firearm found in man bag
The confession proved to be tragically real. Police discovered a converted blank-firing pistol inside a 'man bag-style' pouch Mohammed was wearing across his body. The gun, which had a barrel length of 10cm and a total length of 22cm, was not loaded. However, two rounds of compatible ammunition and £550 in cash were also found in the bag.
In his police interview, Mohammed, of Richards Street in Darlaston, claimed he had found the gun and the nitrous oxide on a 'youth in the area'. He said he had 'confiscated' the items with the intention of handing them in but had begun inhaling the gas himself. He refused to identify the youth, stating he did not want to be seen as a 'snitch'.
Previous conviction leads to mandatory sentence
The court heard that Mohammed had a previous conviction for possession of a bladed article in 2024, for which he had received an eight-week suspended sentence. He was in breach of that suspended sentence at the time of this offence.
While his defence barrister, Sachin Rajput, stated Mohammed was 'remorseful' and regretted having the items, the judge's hands were tied by mandatory sentencing laws. Sentencing Mohammed, Judge John Butterfield KC said he was 'obliged' to impose a five-year term for the firearm offence.
The judge remarked on the unusual nature of Mohammed's confession, noting: 'It was such a startling acceptance that the officer was not sure if you were being serious.'
Uzair Mohammed pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited firearm, possessing ammunition without a certificate, and possessing nitrous oxide. Appearing via video link from HMP Birmingham, he was sentenced to five years' imprisonment on Thursday, November 27.
