Christopher Cronin and Mark Page jailed for seven years

Police officers seized two 9mm firearms and ammunition which were concealed inside an Ottoman at the end of a bed in the property in Broom Way.

Sniffer dogs also found 48 live bullets, an empty gun magazine and a blood-stained red Adidas T-shirt during the raid on February 25 2021.

Ipswich Crown Court heard Christopher Cronin, 56, and Mark Page, 54, were using the address as a “safehouse” to hide their criminal behaviour.

Raid - these two Browning pistols were found at the address in Abberton (Image: NCA)

The duo were convicted of possessing a prohibited firearm and possessing ammunition without a certificate, with Cronin also convicted of a further two offences of possessing a prohibited firearm.

It followed a two week long trial which heard how Page was the “go between” for Cronin and Kim Ames, who owned the Abberton home.

Read more from the trial: Guns, ammunition and bloodied T-shirt found hidden in Colchester home, court hears

Ames, 62, who argued she had no knowledge the box contained guns and bullets, was jailed for 18 months in 2021.

During the trial the jury was told both guns were in working order, with the first found to contain ten bullets including one in its chamber.

Locked up - Christopher Cronin (Image: Essex Police)

Matthew Kirk, prosecuting, said both firearms had their hammer pulled back indicating they were “cocked” and their bullets were “unfired but live”.

He revealed Cronin’s DNA was found on the first pistol and Page’s was found on the second.

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Mr Kirk added Cronin, who has 12 convictions for 33 offences, “has the capacity for very substantial violence”.

Recorder Paul Garlick KC said the defendants were “at the very least reckless, whether or not these weapons would have been used for a criminal purpose”.

Stashed away - the guns were found in a wooden box hidden inside an Ottoman (Image: NCA)

Warrant - the police executed a raid in Broom Way, Abberton (Image: Google)

Cronin, of no fixed address in Colchester, was handed an extra seven years on top of an 11 year sentence he is already serving for conspiracy to supply cocaine, following a conviction in January.

Steven Dyble, for Page, said his client has a “life threatening” heart condition and any substantial sentence would be “devastating” for his family.

Page, of Straight Road, Colchester, was subsequently jailed for seven years.

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