Baby-face balaclava gang caught with deadly Slam Gun and zombie knives

A masked gang was caught driving around Birmingham with a deadly Slam Gun and haul of zombie knives. Police on patrol began pursuing a Ford Focus in Lozells after seeing that the occupants all had their faces covered.

A firearms unit also joined the chase which ended as the gang drove into a dead end in the city's Gun Quarter and tried to run, with only the driver managing to get away after clambering over a fence. Various weapons were recovered and teenagers Marko Catak, Raeese Dhoot and Makaya Russell were caught at the scene in Hanley Street, who each admitted possession of a prohibited firearm and possession of a bladed article.

Fourth defendant Oliwier Gabis was also arrested at the site but he was cleared of the firearm offence and convicted of possession of bladed articles. The 19-year-old has also been involved in two separate knife incidents, including a sword fight where he threw a tin of beans at an attacker who confronted him in a shop.

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Birmingham Crown Court heard he was 'obsessed' with knives amid a debate about whether he would have been killed if he had not been carrying a machete in the latter incident. All four were sentenced to terms of detention at a young offenders institute on Wednesday, April 11 with only Russell having his punishment suspended due to 'exceptional circumstances'.

Judge Dean Kershaw stated the message needed to be clear that anyone caught with knives or guns should expect to be sent to custody to 'ensure the public are protected'.

The Ford Focus was spotted by police on patrol in Lozells around midnight on June 21 last year. Prosecutor Will Dudley said: "They were struck by the (at least) five occupants all wearing balaclavas and formed the view that they may not be up to no good.

"The officers sought to stop the Focus and put on the blue lights and sirens but the Focus failed to stop. Purely by chance were firearms officers in the area. They joined the pursuit."

He told the court as the car turned into Hanley Street, where building works blocked off the end of the road, a number of items were thrown out of the vehicle. One of them was a 'fully functioning Slam Gun'. Mr Dudley said: "It is a rudimentary firearm comprising of two pieces of pipe, one fits over the other, and a 12-gauge shotgun cartridge which was present in the Slam Gun."

A hunting knife and a zombie knife were found nearby while a kitchen knife was recovered from the boot of the car and a kitchen knife was seized from the rear footwell.

In a separate incident on January 22 last year Gabis was involved in confrontation in Handsworth when a man standing outside his front door asked the 18-year-old if he had come to 'boot his door in' but Gabis replied: "I did not come here to wet up with yute."

But after the man moved towards him Gabis pulled out a two-foot long machete and warned 'Don't make me sheft you'. Police were called and tracked him to a HMO in Headingly Road where they found the knife.

Then on January 20 this year Gabis and an associate had been at a shop in Handsworth when a male in a balaclava ran after them. Gabis handed his friend a machete from his bag sparking a 'sword fight' with the attacker, while he threw shop items at the assailant including a tin of beans.

For all incidents Gabis, of Oxhill Road, Handsworth, admitted three counts of possessing a bladed article and an charge of threatening a person with a knife. He was sentenced to two years and one month.

He has previous convictions for knives as well as robbery. Simon Burch, defending, said: "He is an intelligent and capable young man. There has been a psychological impact from the loss of two friends. One was shot and the other took his own life."

He added: "This young man was faced with a stark choice. Balance the risk to his life of not being in possession of something used to defend himself, against the peril of being convicted of weapon offences. Had Mr Gabis not had that knife (during the shop incident) there was a very real risk he would have been seriously injured if not mortally, given the determined effort of that masked individual."

Mr Burch continued: "Sadly the courts aren't going to be able to stop young men carrying knives. If Mr Gabis wasn't armed that day, as unattractive as the point is, he may well have lost his life. It's as simple as that. He will be punished for that."

Judge Kershaw disagreed stating Gabis was 'obsessed' with machete-type weapons concluding he had a reputation for being armed. He added: "It's the possession of it that creates the problem."

Dhoot, aged 19, of Havelock Road, Handsworth Wood, was sentenced to five years and six months. The court heard his mother had written a letter explaining her son got into trouble after they moved from Wales to central Birmingham. Colin McCarraher, defending, said Dhoot was 'ashamed' but had his entire family supporting him and 'had a future'.

Catak, aged 19, of Shakespear Crescent, Winson Green, was sentenced to five years. His barrister Graham Henson stated he had 'got himself into the wrong crowd' and had shown remorse. He added that the 'elephant in the room' was that none of the three teenagers convicted of the firearm offence were believed to be in 'physical' possession of it.

Russell, aged 18, of Golden Eagle Gardens, Erdington, was sentenced to two years, suspended for 18 months including 140 hours of unpaid work. Lee Egan, defending, stated he was 'doing very well in employment' and had been nominated for apprentice of the year adding: "He is clearly doing all one could wish of a child his age."

Judge Kershaw said: "Knife crime is a real problem as is carrying weapons such as Slam Guns. Mr Burch when addressing me said the courts will never be able to stop people carrying knives.

"Well, I approach it from a more positive aspect and make it clear so everyone knows the courts will impose terms of custody or detention for such offences if choices are made to carry weapons for whatever reason, that's what will follow, prison or detention in normal circumstances.

"The safety of the public is the key feature whether I can eradicate offending or not it doesn't stop me as a crown court judge trying to ensure the public are protected and justice is served."