Man's 'incredible' excuse after DNA found on murder weapon linked to fatal shooting

John Charlton told a judge an incredible excuse for why his DNA was found on a murder weapon linked to a fatal shooting carried out in 2020, suggesting the weapon he handled was an 'airsoft toy'

A man had an "incredible" excuse after his DNA was found on a murder weapon.

John Charlton was forensically linked to a Glock pistol that had been used in a fatal shooting and was also fired at a house on another occasion. Following the discovery of the murder weapon, Charlton claimed it was actually a toy gun that he had happened upon by chance while delivering firewood to a house.

He gave the judge overseeing his trial a bizarre reply, telling him "I'm sorry about that" as he was locked up yesterday. Liverpool Crown Court heard the firearm was seized alongside two revolvers, bullets, cannabis and cash after a police raid on the home of Gordon Rhodes on Abbeystead Avenue in Netherton.

The raid on the 57-year-old's home in February last year led to an imprisonment of nine years and nine months in August 2023 for his role in storing the guns. Martyn Walsh, prosecuting, told the court how the pistol in question was used in a murder in 2020 and then a later home shooting incident in 2022.

Charlton's DNA was found "all over" the Glock pistol, including on internal parts. The 42-year-old, of Marlborough Avenue in Netherton, gave evidence to the court during a trial of issue on Friday, saying he held a "casual" job with Fazakerley-based Advance Skip Hire when he handled the item.

He further claimed he would salvage quantities of wood which had been deposited in the Advance Skip Hire bins before selling them on as firewood for £5 a bag, LiverpoolEcho reported. Charlton - who has previous convictions for robbery, burglary, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and cultivating cannabis - said that he would also supply Rhodes with wood for the log burner in his kitchen for free after meeting him in a park while walking his dog.

He told the court: "It was just something I did. I took it in my own hands to do. I just seen it as a waste. He [Rhodes] seen me passing someone else firewood. He goes to Aldi to buy wooden blocks for the fire. Knowing he was disabled, I thought I could help him out.

"I knocked with two bags of firewood. He was eating in his living room. He told me to go through to the kitchen. I put the bags of firewood down by his wood burning stove he has there in the kitchen. I seen an Airsoft pistol gun box on the worktop. I opened the box and took the pistol out.

"It's just what you do as a kid. It's what I've always done. It's just a force of habit. I was looking where to put the BBs to have a little go of it. I was just going to fire it at the floor. It's very minor. Kids fire them at each other. It's not as powerful as a paint gun, like a spud gun type of power."

Rhodes then told Charlton to "put that down" and was then told it was "a real one". Charlton added: "I threw it towards the worktop. The clip fell out. The gun fell to the floor. I threw the pieces onto the side. I didn't realise it was a real gun. I spun it round on my finger and everything, playing with it. I had my hands all over it. I was trying to pull it, push it and everything. I had my fingers all over the inside, pulling it. I handled it every way."

Frank Dillon, defending, said: "There is nothing to suggest that this is habitual behaviour. He is understanding of the court's obligations in this case." Judge David Potter rejected his account as "implausible and incredible". In sentencing, he added: "You have pleaded guilty to very serious offences. When the premises of Mr Rhodes were searched by the police, they found a number of viable firearms and ammunition.

"One in particular, a Glock, was clearly being stored by organised criminals. It had already been used twice in serious criminality. No doubt its continued possession was for future use in criminal activity. Your DNA was found all over it. I cannot say when, how long or in which circumstances you possessed the firearm and ammunition, but I am sure that it was more than transitory and that you knew what it was."

As he was led to the cells, Charlton replied: "Thank you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry about that. Thank you Mr Dillon."