Colchester couple charged after guns found in ottoman in court
One of the guns was fully loaded
A couple arrested after two guns and ammunition were found in an ottoman at the end of a bed in Colchester are in court today.
Officers from the Organised Crime Partnership (OCP), which is a joint National Crime Agency and Metropolitan Police unit, searched a property on Broom Way, Colchester, on Thursday 25th February.
They seized two handguns, one of which was fully loaded.
Lance Ames, aged 64, has been charged with possessing firearms, ammunition and obstructing police.
Meanwhile his partner, 61 year-old Kim Ames, has also been charged with the same gun related offences.
Both are of Broom Way.
The firearms were found in a wooden box, stored in an ottoman at the end of a bed, along with up to fifty bullets.
Mobile phones, a baton and a selection of suspected class A drugs were also removed from the property.
More than ÂŁ8,000 in cash was seized from safes and will be subject to a proceeds of crime hearing.
The couple are due to appear at Ipswich Crown Court today.
DI Richard Smith from the OCP said:
"With the support of Essex Police, we’ve taken two potentially deadly weapons out of circulation.
"The OCP is dedicated to reducing serious and organised crime, which includes investigating the supply of firearms and class A drugs into the UK."