A DRUG dealer who was found with two loaded sawn-off shotguns at his house has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Burnley Crown court heard how police found a Bernardelli single barrel shotgun and a .410 bore shotgun in Jan Loewe’s house in Burnley Road, Bacup, in October.

Earlier, in June, Loewe, 51, and Ryan Florence, 28, were visited by police who had a search warrant for Loewe’s home.

They discovered wraps in snap and seal bags, £230 in cash, a safe containing £290 and 23.4 grams of crack cocaine with an 89 per cent purity.

The value of the crack cocaine was £2,340, the court heard.

The police also found ammonia bottles, a mobile phone and filter masks.

The court heard the Bernardelli shotgun barrel had been shortened.

The court heard the pair were taken to custody and released pending further investigation.

Paul Cummings, prosecuting, said when officers returned to the house in October, they discovered an Adidas rucksack containing the shotguns, cartridges, knives, balaclavas, 16 grams of heroin, worth £1,600.

He said: “Both of the shotguns were in open position and both had live shotgun cartridges inside. The ammonia recovered was to turn cocaine into crack cocaine. Florence admits he was involved with the defendant Loewe, and helped cut the drugs and wrap them.”

Janine Boyarin, 27, who was at Loewe’s house, was found at the house with a quantity of crack cocaine.

Mark Stuart, defending Loewe, said his client was not living a lavish lifestyle as a result of the drugs. He said: “He was unaware (the guns) were loaded. He accepts his fate.”

Salina Akhtar, representing Florence, said her client did not have a great deal of responsibility and was involved for a very short period of time.

Douglas Lloyd, defending Boyarin, said her client led a difficult life and tried to have as much contact with her two young children, who are in foster care.

Loewe, who had previous weapon convictions, pleaded guilty to possession of class A drugs with intent to supply, possession of a single barrel shotgun, possession of an altered firearm without certificate, possession of heroin and possession of crack cocaine.

Florence, of Hollyhedge, Manchester, pleaded guilty to possession of class A drugs with intent to supply and was sentenced to three years in prison.

Boyarin, of Allerton Drive, Burnley, pleaded guilty to supply of crack cocaine and was sentenced to two years in prison.

Judge Simon Edward Medland QC said he was very concerned why Loewe and Florence were not initially arrested in June. He said: “Loewe, you are a long standing criminal who has been involved in the criminal underworld and serious crime for number of years.

“Your convictions go back to 1981. This makes you, in my judgement, a very serious criminal indeed.”