Ex-soldier who got involved in drug crime jailed

An ex-soldier who became involved in drug crime has been handed a six-year prison sentence.

Plumber Daniel Pickavance, 27, of Otley Way, Watford, was jailed by a judge at St Albans Crown Court after admitting drug and gun offences.

Judge Andrew Johnson heard how Pickavance had been arrested in Radlett, Hertfordshire, in October, and found to be in possession of a loaded gun.

A lawyer representing Pickavance told the judge, at a sentencing hearing on Friday, that he had fallen into a "trap of easy money".

Barrister Caroline Baker, prosecuting, said Pickavance was stopped in a car by officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) near Radlett train station on 29 October.

She said he had a handgun, a converted blank-firing pistol, ammunition and about £30,000 in cash.

Cannabis and a cash-counting machine had been found at his home, Baker added.

Pickavance had been arrested less than a month after being convicted of an assault and handed a suspended prison sentence of more than a year, the judge heard.

He admitted possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of ammunition without a certificate, possession of criminal property, possession of cannabis with intent to supply and breaching a suspended sentence.

Johnson said he would be eligible for release from prison on parole after serving half the six-year sentence.

Baker said Pickavance told officers that he carried the gun for his own protection.

Barrister Sean Minihan, who represented Pickavance, said he had made "full admissions".

Minihan told the judge that Pickavance had been in the Army and had suffered a "tragedy" six years ago when his brother died.

"He became involved in drugs," said Minihan.

"He fell into the trap of easy money - and he found himself in this situation."

After the hearing, an NCA spokeswoman said that Pickavance was stopped by officers on Watford Road in Radlett in a VW Golf.

"(He) directed officers to the driver's side back seat of the VW Golf where he had stashed the top-venting blank-firing pistol and over £30,000 in cash," she said.

"The gun was loaded with five 8mm bullets.

"Officers searching his associated properties found 3.3 kilos of cannabis, over £5,900 cash, and a cash-counting machine."

NCA senior investigating officer Matteo Sole added: "Pickavance was caught red-handed with a dangerous weapon that he no doubt used as a tool for his drugs trade.

"The amount of incriminating evidence collected by our officers left him with no alternative but to plead guilty."

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