West Midlands man jailed after police found parlour pistol in shoe

A man has been jailed after police recovered a parlour pistol hidden in a shoe on top of a wardrobe in a West Midlands address.

Sami Sharif, aged 33, was found guilty at Coventry Crown Court of possession of a firearm, and was jailed for five years and six months on Thursday (July 16).

Sharif was initially spotted by a police officer near to the Nauls Mill Underpass in Coventry on January 15.

Get the best local stories, straight to your inbox - subscribe to the E&S newsletter

He was recognised by police officers who knew he was wanted for a robbery and arrested him.

At the scene, he was searched, and police officers were able to recover a small amount of cannabis.

Subsequently, police officers searched Sharif’s home on Terry Road.

Here, officers found a gun hidden in a shoe on top of a wardrobe.

Sharif claimed he found the gun in a park and thought it was a toy.

The gun is actually a parlour pistol which is known to fire low-powered but lethal ammunition.

These types of guns are illegal under UK law.