Blackburn 'gun' arrested man cleared

9:23pm Tuesday 22nd April 2008

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POLICE have dropped an investigation into a council officer who was arrested after a "gun" was seized at his home.

Nadeem Ilyas was arrested in March at Bangor Street Community Centre, Blackburn, where he works, after police seized what they believed to be a Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle.

The 27-year-old, of London Road, Blackburn, was detained on suspicion of possessing an AK-47 assault rifle without a firearms certificate.

As a result of the probe, he was suspended from Blackburn with Darwen council, where he is employed in the neighbourhoods department.

But when officers sent the "gun" off to be analysed, it was revealed to be a replica that could not be fired and Mr Ilyas will face no charges.

Nadeem Ilyas has told of his "astonishment" at being arrested for possessing an "ornament" and his relief that he has been cleared of all wrong-doing and allowed to go back to work.

And he has claimed that when the police seized the weapon' they also recovered, from the same drawer, the documentation which confirmed it was a replica.

He said: "At one stage I thought my job was in jeopardy and my family were answering questions within the community."

The weapon' was seized from an address in Douglas Place which Mr Ilyas describes as the family home.

"It was in a drawer with the oil and booklet which had come with it when it was bought quite openly off the internet," said Mr Ilyas. "I hadn't even seen it for four months. A friend was going to make me a display cabinet for it."

Mr Ilyas said he was happy to sign a disclaimer for the Kalashnikov when the police said they were dropping the matter.

"I don't want anything more to do with it," said Mr Ilyas. "It has brought nothing but grief for me and my family and I just want to get on with my life and my work."

Solicitor Basharat Ditta, of Forbes Solicitors, who represented Mr Ilyas, said: "Police have now accepted it was not a firearm but in the meantime my client and his family have suffered a great deal of stress and anxiety and I feel the whole matter could have been handled better."

Det Insp Pete Simm said: "We sent the gun off and it was an imitation.

"He has been released without charge."

A 32-year-old man who was also arrested has also been released without charge.

Steve Rigby, director of culture, leisure and sport for the council said: "We have worked closely with the police and understand the men were released without charge after an examination of the gun revealed it was an imitation. We will be taking no further action and Mr Ilyas suspension will be lifted."