Sentencing for 19-year-old found in possession of imitation revolver

Two senior officers were on patrol when a call came in for assistance with two males reportedly fighting on Coventry Road, Bedworth.

At 10:15pm on 29 February, Chief Inspector (now, Superintendent) Steve Davies and Inspector Ryan Price were informed that one of the two males (Reiko Murphy) had made off into a nearby park and gave chase.

On spotting the subject near Windmill Road in Exhall, Ch Insp Davies got out of the police vehicle and pursued Murphy on foot, eventually convincing him to stop after he unsuccessfully tried to hide between two garages.

Insp Price arrived shortly afterwards and put the cuffs on Murphy as Ch Insp Davies arrested him.

A search showed that Murphy had attempted to hide a revolver-type weapon in the alley between the garages – later confirmed to be a realistic-looking blank firing weapon.

Reiko Murphy, 19 of Agincourt Road in Coventry, was sentenced to 42 weeks in a young offender institution for possession of an imitation firearm.

He is also required to pay a £187 victims’ surcharge.

Investigating officer DC Ward of North CID said “Murphy was carrying a highly realistic looking blank firing revolver, most likely for intimidation purposes.

“Thanks to a quick capture of Murphy by Davies and Price, as well as the vigilant eye of our Patrol officers, we were able to demonstrate to Murphy that we won’t tolerate this behaviour in our communities.”