The heroin user ‘panicked’ and claimed that he had found the converted blank-firing revolver in a park
16:00, 13 Aug 2025Updated 16:01, 13 Aug 2025
Carl Povey, of Berryford Road in West Derby, aged 46(Image: Merseyside Police)
Police raided a man’s home expecting to find drugs but instead discovered a gun hidden inside a biscuit tin. Carl Povey was caught minding the “rusty and defective” converted blank-firing revolver on behalf of drug dealers after racking up debts for his heroin use.
He then “panicked” and falsely claimed that he had found the firearm in a park. A judge today told him that he had been selected as a “reliable” guardian of the revolver due to his past involvement in the supply of class A substances.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Wednesday that officers executed a search warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act at Povey’s home on Berryford Road in West Derby shortly before 9am on June 20 this year. While no illicit substances were discovered within the property, PCs instead recovered a small gun and three bullets from inside an “old biscuit tin” in the kitchen.
Derek Jones, prosecuting, described how the firearm was subsequently found to be a .22 calibre, eight-chambered double action revolver which had been converted from a blank firing starting pistol by filing down the barrel. The “rusty” weapon was said to have been in a “poor condition”, however.
While the gun was ultimately successfully test fired, it was found to have a number of defects. These included the chamber not being aligned with the barrel, with the hammer also having to be pushed forwards in order to allow the pistol to be discharged.
The bullets were similarly found to be compatible converted .22 calibre blank cartridges. Under interview, Povey claimed that he had found the gun in a park and was intending to hand the weapon in to the police.
The 46-year-old has four previous convictions for 14 offences, including receiving three years for class A drug supply in 2007. Lionel Grieg, defending, told the court: “Obviously he gave an account in interview which he does not stand by. That was said in panic.
“He acknowledges that no one should have these weapons and understands the impact of them in our city. He had suffered from chronic back pain. He was receiving treatment, but, unfortunately, through working manually and working long hours, he struggled with his medication and, regrettably, turned to heroin.
“He built up a debt and was tasked with minding it. He understands that he could have said no and understands the position that he is now in before the courts. In terms of the firearm, it was old and rusty and, although it was test fired, it was not straight forward.”
Povey admitted possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of ammunition without a certificate. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a purple polo shirt, he was jailed for five years.
Sentencing, Judge Denis Watson KC said: “You were looking after this firearm and bullets for those, I have no doubt at all, who were involved in drug supply. As you know perfectly well, those involved in drug supply use and threaten to use firearms to ensure that they get their way.
“The seriousness of dealing in class A drugs is heightened by these gangs who use firearms. You were not planning to use this yourself, but effectively aligned yourself with those who were supplying you because you were someone who was reliable.
“You could be trusted to look after it. Your lifestyle, historically, as someone who was involved, some time ago now, with class A drugs made you an ideal person to look after this weapon.
“I do accept that this was an old gun, but it had been adapted so that they had, with garage engineering, converted this into a working firearm. It was intended that this be a working revolver. It is still a lethal handgun.”