This is how much Leeds drug dealer caught with shark killing gun and bullets must pay back over his crimes

A drug dealer serving a ten-year sentence after being caught with a gun used to kill sharks and more than 20 bullets has been ordered to pay £3,475.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

David Hammill must pay the sum after an order was made against him at Leeds Crown Court under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Hammill was given a decade-long sentence in October last year for drugs and weapons offences.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The offences relate to Hammill being caught in possession of a gun used by divers to kill sharks.

Leeds Crown CourtLeeds Crown Court
Leeds Crown Court

Hammill had the 'bang stick' firearm in his BMW when he was stopped by police on Pepper Road in Hunslet on suspicion of having no insurance.

Police investigated and 22 bullets and drugs with a street value of around £10,000 were found in a number of cars parked near Hammill's home on Cambrian Terrace, Beeston.

Police didn't know what the 185mm long bang stick was and sent it to the Royal Armouries museum in Leeds for analysis.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Experts confirmed it was a working firearm, which is used at the end of a spear or pole by divers and is fired when in direct contact with the target.

When police stopped 43-year-old Hammill on April 8 last year he said he thought he had some proof he was insured on his mobile phone in his car.

An officer went to Hammill's BMW to get the phone and spotted an axe in the door pocket.

Hammill was arrested and police then saw the bang stick in the centre console of the BMW.Police searched a Vauxhall Insignia parked near Hammill's home address and found 20 bullets in a box in the boot.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They also found a bag in the Insignia containing heroin with a street value of £5,350, cocaine worth around £585, crack cocaine worth around £1,830 and cannabis worth around £450.

Skunk cannabis worth around £1,800 was found in a Mercedes car along with a single bullet.

One bullet was found in an Audi.

Some of the bullets were .38 calibre and all were capable of being fired by the bang stick.

The court heard yesterday (July 6) how Hammill had benefited by £38,050 as a result of his offending but had just £3,475 of assets available.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Judge Simon Phillips QC said the lower sum was made up from cash and vehicles seized from the defendant.

Hammill was ordered to pay the sum within 28 days or face a longer custodial sentence

At the sentencing hearing last autumn, prosecutor Michael Morley said: "While it (the bang stick) might normally be used for underwater predators, it could just as easily be used by holding it against the body of a human being to discharge the cartridge."

Hammill admitted possession of a prohibited weapon, two charges of possessing ammunition without a certificate, three charges of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply and four charges of possessing class B drugs with intent to supply.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He has 11 previous convictions for 22 offences including assaulting a police constable, possessing cannabis with intent to supply, production of cannabis and criminal damage.

Judge Andrew Stubbs QC told Hammill: "I'm sure that this weapon was used by you in connection with your drug dealing.

"I conclude it was not used to scare as anyone looking at it would not know what it was.

"It can only be to inflict serious injury should the need arise."