The drug dealer received the warning from his partner after “blurting out” an incriminating comment when police raided his flat
Daniel Estridge, of Falkner Street, aged 43(Image: Merseyside Police)
A drug dealer was told “be quiet and stop talking” by his girlfriend after police found a gun hidden in his slow cooker. Daniel Estridge received the warning from his partner after “blurting out” an incriminating comment, having remarked that the “good mood” as officers raided his home had been soured by the discovery.
Cannabis worth around £10,000 and £25,000 in cash was also seized from the flat, with a picture of a Christmas tree adorned with bank notes having been noted on his phone. Family members told him “we love you” as he was locked up today, at which stage he waved goodbye to the judge.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Thursday that police executed a search warrant at Estridge’s flat on Falkner Street in Liverpool city centre‘s Georgian Quarter at around 7.30am on May 14 last year. This led to officers seizing more than a kilogram of cannabis, valued at between £7,556 and £11,352, from glass jars, tubs and plastic bags in the living room.
Stephen McNally, prosecuting, described how 4.45g of cocaine, at a purity of 75% and worth £191 to £441, was also recovered, with residue of both the class A and B drugs found on a set of scales and packaging in the property. A total of £25,360 in cash was meanwhile found in one of the two bedrooms, with a picture on Estridge’s mobile phone having shown a Christmas tree decorated with money.
A search of the kitchen thereafter revealed a slow cooker containing a black bin bag, with the firearm having been located inside. Having been made aware of this discovery by PCs, the 43-year-old defendant replied: “Ah, it was all a good mood in here until they found a pistol in the kitchen.”
At this, his partner was said to have replied: “How do you know it’s a pistol? They haven’t said that. Be quiet and stop talking. That’s what I’ve seen on the telly.”
The weapon was subsequently found to be a converted Walther blank firing pistol, having been recovered alongside a magazine containing nine rounds of compatible 9x19mm Luger ammunition. Both were successfully test fired.
Estridge’s DNA was recovered from the slide catch, side grips and magazine port, with further low level traces detected on the hammer and rear sight, safety catch and magazine base. He has one previous conviction for assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 1998, when he was aged 15.
Anthony O’Donohoe, defending, told the court: “It is an unusual case in some ways. There is a huge gap in the defendant’s offending behaviour. Although it would seem that the defendant has become involved in organised crime in some way, he is not, by his record at least, a lifetime professional criminal.
“Given the remark made when the firearm was discovered, your honour may think that there was an element of naivety, certainly not sophisticated behaviour, in what the defendant said or blurted out. The reference written by a family friend of the defendant paints a very different picture of him. He is an individual thought highly of in his family and is clearly much loved.
“It is no doubt a massive disappointment to them that he became involved, somehow, in all of this. There is no evidence here of a lavish lifestyle, although I have to accept that there was a large amount of cash recovered.
“He is one of 15 half siblings and he has a large group of family support around him. He did have caring responsibilities for the mother of his partner and also his maternal grandmother, who seems to be the head of the family.
“Your honour will have read of the trauma that the defendant experienced as a child. It is perhaps to his credit that the character that those who love him see leads to a refence which speaks so highly of him.
“Whilst in custody, the defendant has engaged in education, not only for himself but in terms of assisting other inmates. He wants to use his time in custody profitably and is doing so.
“Rather than working in the kitchens or something of that nature, he wants to go down the route of education so that, upon his eventual release, he can better himself, better his prospects and lead a pro-social life. This matter has hung over him for some time. The defendant has indicated that this has been the worst year of his life among many hard times in his past.”
Estridge admitted possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of ammunition without a certificate, possession of cannabis with intent to supply, possession of criminal property and possession of cocaine. Appearing in the dock wearing a white polo shirt, he was jailed for five years and 10 months.
Sentencing, Judge Ian Harris said: “Just over a kilogram of cannabis was found and 5g of cocaine at a relatively high purity of 75 per cent. There were scales and drugs packaging in your property which bore residues of cannabis and cocaine. £25,360 cash was found in a bedroom in the property.
“In a cupboard in the kitchen, there was a slow burner which contained a black bin bag. That contained the gun. This was a Walther pistol which had been converted to fire live bullets. It was successfully fired and, thus, was a viable and lethal firearm.
“Guns kill and maim, terrorise and intimidate. That is why criminals want them. That is why they use them. Too many lethal weapons are too readily available. Too many are carried, too many are used, always with devastating effects on victims and with an insidious, corrosive impact on the wellbeing of the local community.
“Thus, the law reflects the need for deterrents. Sentences for gun offences will be severe. In addition, illegal drugs are responsible for enormous amounts of crime. The abuse of drugs leads to many crimes, including dishonesty and violence, often lethal violence.
“The gun in this case had compatible live ammunition. It was a weapon that could be easily concealed and cause injury or death. You were looking after this weapon, and you have clearly handled it on occasions.”
Estridge turned to the public gallery behind him after learning his sentence, at which stage his supporters told him “we love you, we love you”. He then waved to the judge and court as he was led to the cells.