Sefton Park man sentenced for shotgun possession after robbery

A teenager named Jamie Crawford threw a shotgun out of his window after police visited his home in connection with a robbery. This incident took place in Sefton Park, where a man was robbed at knifepoint while riding his electric bike. The robbery happened on April 27 last year. The victim was riding his Cube e-bike with a friend when two attackers forced him to stop and stole the bike using a large knife. The next day, the victim's mother contacted the police to report that the stolen bike had a tracker, directing officers to Crawford's home on Mill Lane. When police arrived, Crawford was seen leaning out of a window and tossing a grey rucksack into the garden of a nearby house. He later stepped outside and was arrested. Inside the home, officers found the stolen e-bike and the discarded rucksack, which contained a sawn-off shotgun. Although the shotgun was in poor condition and not functional, it was loaded and had the potential to work if repaired. Crawford, who was 18 at the time, admitted to possessing a prohibited weapon and handling stolen goods. He was sentenced to five years in prison by Judge Garrett Byrne. During the sentencing, the judge acknowledged Crawford's young age and mental health issues. The shotgun was also ordered to be destroyed.