Woman jailed for three years for looking after a sawn-off shotgun

Carrying a gun, even if it is for someone else, can lead to very serious consequences, including time behind bars, as a young woman found out earlier this week.

Keesha Kalyan, 21, was 17 at the time when it was discovered she was looking after a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition after it was found in the bag of another pupil at a school in Kempston in October 2018.

Police found text messages between the two from a week or so before discussing a ‘dotty’ - which is urban slang for a shotgun - being taken into Kalyan’s home address and her asking the boy not to say anything about it.

Snapchat messages were also found referencing the weapon when the boy was taken into police custody and she was also arrested as it was suspected she was involved.

Her fingerprints were found on the bag that the gun was inside of, but when questioned, she claimed that the ‘dotty’ she was referring to in the text messages was a religious ornament.

Kalyan, who was living in Bedford at time, but was residing in Cowley, Uxbridge during the trial, was handed a three-year custodial sentence on Wednesday (20 April) after being convicted in November last year for possessing a prohibited firearm.

Detective Sergeant David Gordon, who investigated the case, said: “We can’t stress enough that if you are caught carrying any kind of illegal firearm, even if it is an imitation one, there will be a price to pay and this is likely to be in the form of a stint in prison. 

“Using the excuse that it isn’t yours or that you are carrying it for your own protection simply won’t wash with us.

“Carrying a prohibited weapon can lead to devastating consequences, for not only the individuals involved, but for the families of those who get hurt through such actions. If you have concerns or feel like you are being forced, bullied or coerced into storing a gun for someone, please speak to us and we will try to help you.

“Fortunately, gun crime remains extremely rare in Bedfordshire and by working alongside our partners, recorded incidents of serious youth violence fell by 24 per cent in Bedfordshire in the 12 months to April 2021, compared to the same timeframe to April 2019.

“We will continue to do all we can to stamp out such criminality and make sure that those responsible for inciting such violence are held accountable for their actions.”

If you know of someone carrying a gun, you can report it to us online or alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

If you need help or support getting out of a gang, please visit the Beds Violence and Exploitation Reduction Unit