 The judge said Manchester was known as "Gun City" |
A judge has called for tough sentences on firearms criminals after a man and a youth were caught in Manchester with a loaded Uzi sub-machine gun. Scott Atkinson, 20, of Walsden Street, Clayton, and a youth, 17, of Beswick, also admitted owning a sawn-off shotgun with intent to endanger life.
They were detained for four years at Manchester Crown Court.
Recorder David Maddison said: "These days Manchester is sometimes referred to as 'Gun City."
He added: "There is serious public concern about the proliferation of gun crime and cases involving possession and use of guns come before our courts with depressing regularity.
Officer threatened
"That concern must be reflected in the substantial terms which must be passed to try to deter others committing offences of the utmost gravity."
The court was told Atkinson and the youth had fled from a car police had tried to stop in Ashton New Road in January 2004.
The youth threatened the officer with one of the guns but was arrested.
The sub-machine gun was later found to have 20 live cartridges.
Lisa Robinson, defending Atkinson, said he owned the gun for protection from enemies after he had been shot at and his father and uncle injured in shootings.
The court heard the teenager was moving the shotgun for other people who he refused to name.
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