A youth who took part in a gang-related attack outside a Stratton shop went on to own a pistol with live rounds.

Ryan Molloy, of Edington Close in Toothill, appeared at Swindon Crown Court via video link from HMP Winchester to be sentenced for three offences.

Rob Welling, prosecuting, told the court that when Ryan was 16, he was involved in an incident of gang violence.

On June 13, 2020, two vehicles were parked outside a convenience store near the Moonrakers junction, and several people got out and descended on a man walking by.

Mr Welling added: "It was a planned and coordinated attack. Mr Molloy was one member of the large group that surrounded and jostled the victim, vastly outnumbering him, enabling Karl to inflict the injury.

"Karl Thomas was responsible for the main attack - he produced a knife and inflicted two wounds and stripped the tyres of [the victim's] bike.

"Mr Molloy did not know the knife was going to be produced... or that the assault was going to be as serious as it turned out to be."

The victim suffered lacerations to his thighs. Thomas will be sentenced on September 30. 

Then, on September 18, 2023, police were called to an address on Edington Close and saw three men running out of the back of the building.

A witness told officers that someone had thrown a bag over a garden fence.

It contained drinks, three live rounds of ammunition, and a pistol that had 19-year-old Ryan's DNA on it as well as erased markings.

Police arrested Molloy on February 7, 2024, and later charged him with possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of ammunition for a firearm without a certificate.

Mr Welling added: "Given the defendant's lifestyle and association with gang behaviour, he must have had the gun and ammo for future criminal purposes."

Molloy, now 20, also has two previous convictions for three offences, which include possession of an offensive weapon and causing grievous bodily harm on October 8, 2020, when he and another man carrying blades and wearing face coverings carried out an unprovoked attack on a man smoking outside a tattoo parlour.

Tom Wilkins, defending, highlighted the defendant's age at the time of the ABH and his lesser role in the June 2020 attack.

Judge James Townsend sentenced Molloy to five years in custody. The defendant's family and friends waved and spoke to him before the video feed ended.

Detective Constable Anna McCormack said: "A bag containing a firearm was left in a residential garden where anyone could have found it. Such illegal firearms have no place in Swindon and Wiltshire.

"They often end up in the hands of organised criminals, who use them to inflict serious violence and instil fear.

"I am pleased to have removed one from our streets before it was used to fatally or seriously injure someone."