Harlow woman jailed after loaded gun found at her home
Sherrie Walters has been sentenced for possessing firearm and ammunition.
A woman from Harlow has been jailed for 30 months after being found guilty of possessing a loaded gun and ammunition without a certificate.
Sherrie Walters, 42, was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on 9th January 2026 following an investigation by Harlow detectives.
Jurors heard that officers were called to Walters’ home in Orchard Croft on 27th December 2021 after receiving reports that she had been seen with a firearm in her bag.
Walters had attended a party in North London, where she claimed she was given the gun to look after. However, she refused to disclose who had asked her to take care of the weapon.
During a search of her home, officers discovered a revolver and two bullets, leading to Walters’ arrest and subsequent charge. She denied possession of the firearm and ammunition, but a jury ultimately found her guilty.
Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Karen Knibbs emphasised the dangers of illegal firearm possession:
“There is absolutely no place for firearms on the streets of Essex.
“I’m pleased, that thanks to the work of our detectives, this weapon and the person in possession of it have been removed from our streets.
“If someone asks you to look after a weapon for them, don’t do it, because if you are found with it, it will be you that ends up behind bars as Walters found out at the cost of her liberty.
“What’s more, when people are in possession of weapons – whether that’s guns, knives, other bladed articles – not only do you risk being sent to prison, but you risk being hurt, hurting someone else, or worse. It’s simply not worth it.
“We hope this sends a clear message to our communities that where we have intelligence or information that people possess firearms illegally, we will act swiftly.”