A sawn-off shotgun was discovered inside a man bag after police spotted a gang of teens 'running for their lives' away from a fish and chip shop, a court heard.
Mason Hoey and David McDonald vaulted over garden fences in a 'frantic' bid to escape, a judge was told. The loaded firearm was then found hidden inside the bag, which they had stashed in a wheelie bin.
Both Hoey and McDonald were both just 17 at the time. A judge who has now jailed them said the gun 'was not simply a weapon being carried to frighten'.
Liverpool Crown Court heard police officers were on patrol in the Walton area of Liverpool on the evening of June 16, 2023, 'due to ongoing tensions in the area' and as part of efforts to 'disrupt organised crime'.
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