The discovery in an outbuilding of a Thornton Heath business of a pistol, of a kind used by the police in Europe, led to the arrest and conviction for drug-dealing of Mark Kerwick.
Deadly weapon: the Glock pistol, found in a Thornton Heath dry cleaners
Kerwick, 33, from the Shrublands Estate in Shirley, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment at Croydon Crown Court last month.
Kerwick was found guilty of possession of a firearm and distributing Class B drugs.
Detective Constable Samuel Cafferty, from the Specialist Crime Command, who led the investigation, said: “Drugs have a devastating impacts on communities and it goes without saying that guns such as these can cause serious violence an irreparable damage.
“Our team collaborates with local officers to dismantle firearm-related crimes in Croydon. The swift action taken by the officers demonstrates our dedication to maintaining public safety and combating criminal activity within London.
“To further enhance our efforts, we have also increased patrols in high-risk areas serving as a visible deterrent to potential offenders and reassuring the public of their safety. If you have any questions, please speak to local officers who will be happy to hear from you.”
Time: Mark Kerwick was sentenced to five years
Kerwick’s arrest dates back to October 2020, when a dry cleaners in Thornton Heath was raided. During the search of an outbuilding in the backyard of the premises, a converted Glock pistol capable of fully automatic fire was found in a black zip up pouch.
Kerwick claimed he had picked up the gun in 2016 or 2017 but had only held it for about five seconds. Forensic investigation by Met officers found Kerwick’s DNA on the trigger and working parts of the pistol, as well as internal components.
Glocks are standard issue to police in Austria. It is reckoned that least 20million of the weapons have been manufactured.
As part of the investigation, specialist officers also analysed the contents of Kerwick’s phone and discovered he had been supplying cannabis to friends and family.
FREE ADS: Paid-up subscribers to Inside Croydon qualify for a free ad for their business, residents’ association or community group, just one of the benefits of being part of our online community. For more information about being an iC subscriber, click here for our Patreon page
PAID ADS: To advertise your services or products to our near 10,000 weekday visitors to the site, which is featured on Google News Showcase and followed by 16,000 on Twitter/X, email us inside.croydon@btinternet.com for our unbeatable ad rates
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
As featured on Google News Showcase
- Our comments section on every report provides all readers with an immediate “right of reply” on all our content. Our comments policy can be read by clicking here
Inside Croydon is a member of the Independent Community News Network
- Inside Croydon works together with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, as well as BBC London News and ITV London
ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2024, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for a SEVENTH successive year in the annual round-up of civic cock-ups in Private Eye magazine
Five years. That’s what that Just Stop Oil protester got for having a conversation