Jail for man uncovered by police accessing firearms and ammunition

Tyler Davidson, of Rochester Road in Stockton, was seen on a photograph holding a shotgun and a Carlos pistol after detectives seized a mobile phone.

Upon analysis of the 30-year-old’s mobile phone he sent Snapchat messages suggesting he had access to firearms, the court heard.

These messages included ‘I want to shoot them’, I’m going to blast a few tomorrow’ and ‘if he was round here, I would shoot the face of him’.

On Friday 6 November Davidson appeared at Teesside Crown Court to be sentenced to six years after pleading guilty to two counts of possessing a firearm of length and possess ammunition for a firearm without a certificate.

During the hearing, the court heard how the sawn-off shotgun was believed to be one of three firearms that were recovered by police from a large black bag in woodland on South Road in Norton a short distance from Davidson’s home.

A number of other bags, backpacks and cartridges were also inside. The viable firearms recovered on Monday 4 August 2025 were a Skorpian machine pistol, a sawn-off shotgun and a Sig Sauer pistol.

Davidson’s DNA was discovered on the magazine of the Sig Sauer pistol.

On Thursday 31 July 2025 a firearm and ammunition was located from a vehicle on Windsor Court in Grangetown. Following a search, the black Carlos pistol was found in the passenger footwell wrapped inside a carrier bag with six loose bullets.

Forensic analysis of the items found Davidson’s DNA on one of the bullets.

Cleveland Police T/Detective Superintendent Stuart Hodgson, who oversaw the operation, said: “I must acknowledge the discovery and subsequent recovery of three viable firearms that had been deliberately concealed and hidden away in woodland.

“This is significant in our commitment to protect members of the public and our communities from the serious violence and harm caused by firearms and often their association with serious and organised crime.

“Davidson was playing a part in that. He accessed those weapons and the ammunition and did so by showing off, taking photographs of him holding them that would ultimately be used against him in evidence at court.

“Information and intelligence are key to being able to remove firearms from the hands of dangerous criminals. I would take this opportunity to encourage anyone who has information to come forward as soon as possible.

“If you feel reticent to speak to police you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously by calling on 0800 555 111 or by visiting their website.”