A man has been jailed after throwing guns out of his car window during a police chase in Sheffield.
On June 13, 2024, South Yorkshire Police chased down a dark blue Mitsubishi Shogun on Manchester Road in Sheffield after it reacted to police vehicles. The car was being driven by Earl Treasure, and began to manoeuvre dangerously past other vehicles as he attempted to escape.
Treasure, from Rotherham, ran red lights and drove in the centre of the road, while crashing into street furniture. The car eventually came to a stop on Pearoyd Lane.
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He was detained and, after searching the area, the police found a small bag containing two loaded guns. An inspection of the guns by the Armed Crime Team found they were blank-firing guns, which had been converted into viable weapons.
One of the guns recovered in Sheffield -Credit:South Yorkshire Police
Forensic tests found Treasure’s DNA on each gun, and he was then charged with two counts of possessing a prohibited firearm and two counts of possessing ammunition without a valid certificate. Treasure was also charged with driving a motor vehicle dangerously.
Treasure, 46 and of Newton Place in Thorpe Hesley, pleaded guilty to all charges on Wednesday, September 10. He was jailed for seven years at Sheffield Crown Court and was handed a driving ban of 11-years-and-six months.
Detective Constable David Stacey, who was the officer in charge in this case, said: “Treasure drove without care in an attempt to conceal his involvement with firearm enabled criminality. It is only down to sheer luck that no innocent members of the public were injured during his reckless efforts to avoid police.
“Not only has a criminal been put behind bars, but two dangerous weapons have been seized ensuring no damage can be caused by them. Blank firing weapons made up a significant proportion of firearms discharges and recoveries in South Yorkshire over the last two years.
“Getting them off the streets of South Yorkshire is a priority. If you remain in possession of an illegal weapon, not only do you risk being handed a considerable jail sentence, but you are also posing a danger to innocent members of your local community.”
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