Men jailed after exchanging gun in Colchester
They were sentenced yesterday (24 March)
Last updated 25th Mar 2021
Two men have been jailed after exchanging a gun in a car park in Colchester.
Jake Mitchell and Billy Parsley were seen exchanging the weapon in Bromley Road on 12 October, 2019.
Parsley then left in a BMW, which was driven by another person.
Mitchell was arrested soon afterwards, and his Mercedes was searched by police.
Inside was a double barrelled shotgun, which had been shortened, and a cut down bolt action rifle.
The loaded shotgun was identified as the item he had been handed by Parsley.
It is believed the rifle was already in the car, along with a bag of ammunition.
Another gun, a revolver, was found at his home in Egret Crescent.
The following day, Parsley was arrested in Hesper Road, Colchester.
Mitchell, aged 27, of Egret Crescent, Colchester, pleaded guilty to three counts of a possession of firearm, while Parsley, aged 24, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to transferring a firearm at Chelmsford Crown Court on 18 November last year.
They were sentenced yesterday (24 March).
Mitchell has been jailed for a total of seven years and two months.
Meanwhile Parsley has been sentenced to five years and three months inside.
Detective Chief Inspector Steve Nelson said:
"The potential harm these weapons could have caused does not bear thinking about, and there can be no doubt that Mitchell and Parsley were well aware of the potential consequences.
"Fortunately few people will ever be affected by gun crime, but we are working tirelessly to keep it that way, by taking weapons off our streets and putting criminals before the courts."