Four men charged with firearms offences following incident in Walton

Four men have been charged with firearms offences following warrants carried out in Merseyside yesterday, Wednesday 28 August.

As part of a joint investigation with the National Crime Agency, officers from the Organised Crime Partnership carried out warrants in north Liverpool and Wirral yesterday.

The warrants were in connection to an incident on Tuesday 21 May 2024, when officers stopped a car on Walton Lane and seized a blank firing pistol and ammunition.

We can now confirm that the following four people have been charged:

• Thomas Ambrose, 30, of no fixed abode, has been charged with conspiracy to possess a firearm without a certificate.

• Thomas Collins, 30, of Robson Street, in Everton, has been charged with possession of a firearm when prohibited for life, possession of a firearm of length less than 30am/60cm and conspiracy to possess a firearm without a certificate

• Alan Gray, 36, of Cassia Close, in Walton, has been charged with possession of a firearm when prohibited for life, possession of a firearm of length less than 30am/60cm, conspiracy to possess a firearm without a certificate and possession with intent to supply a controlled Class A drug (cocaine).

• Connor Nixon, 27, of Farmfield Drive, in Beechwood, has been charged with possession of a firearm of length less than 30am/60cm and possession of a firearm during a five year period following suspended sentence of three months or more being passed.

All four men have been remanded into custody to appear at Wirral Magistrates’ Court this morning, Thursday 29 August.

Detective Inspector Laura Parr said: “Merseyside Police and the National Crime Agency are both relentless in our pursuit of those suspected as being involved in serious organised crime in Merseyside and we are determined to rid our streets of dangerous firearms that cause misery for local people in our communities.

“It is vital that members of the public come forward with information so we can make our communities safer for the decent, law-abiding people who live in areas affected by gun crime.

“Where people are willing to support the police, we will ensure every possible avenue is progressed to protect them.

“And if you don’t feel comfortable coming directly to the police call the independent, anonymous, Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111, we need to know who is involved in gun crime and where those guns are being stored.”

If you have any information about suspected firearms in your area, please contact @MerPolCC, 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress. 

A fifth man has already been charged in connection with this investigation.

Christopher James, 26, of Collin Road, in Bidston, was arrested in May in connection with the incident on Tuesday 21 May and he has been charged with possession of ammunition for a firearm without a certificate, possession of a firearm when prohibited for life and possession of a firearm of length less than 30cm/60cm.

He is next due to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday 10 September.