Rotherham man jailed after throwing away loaded firearm during police chase
He'll serve a six year sentence
A Rotherham man has been jailed for six years after throwing away a loaded gun during a police chase.
On March 16 firearms officers were patrolling Far Lane when they spotted 48 year old Ben Dearden wearing a helmet and riding a Surron e-bike.
Dearden abandoned the bike and fled on foot but was soon arrested.
His helmet was later found containing a sports bag with the firearm and ammunition inside..
Further examinations revealed a live round in the chamber and six rounds in the magazine, with the weapon linked to previous shootings in Doncaster in 2018 and Sheffield in 2023.
Dearden, of Eastwood Court, admitted to various firearms offences at Sheffield Crown Court on April 15 and was sentenced yesterday.
He was given an eight-month consecutive sentence for possessing a knife during an unrelated incident in February.
Temporary Detective Inspector Matt Barnes of South Yorkshire Police said:
"This is a great result which has seen a loaded firearm, and the man carrying it, taken off the street. We know only too well the terrible damage that firearms can do. Gun crime destroys lives."
"There is absolutely no excuse to carry an illegal firearm. If you do so, expect to face severe consequences."