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A Brockley shop owner, Martin Seymour Logan, has been waiting for three long years to be sentenced after a fake gun was found in his Range Rover outside a house in Croydon. Logan, 45, appeared in Croydon Crown Court wearing a blue three-piece suit and a burgundy tie on Wednesday, September 25. After a lengthy wait, he was finally given a 12-month community order for possessing an imitation firearm and for having a prohibited weapon.

Logan, residing in Apex Close in Beckenham, committed the offences in 2021 but had to endure 1,125 days of uncertainty before learning his fate. Despite his past criminal history, including a crime spree involving Class A drugs offences and culminating in the weapons offences while under conditional discharge, Logan’s barrister stated that he has since distanced himself from those associations.

According to reports, Logan was stopped by police for a search outside an event at a house in Bensham Manor Road in Thornton Heath, Croydon, around 9pm on August 27, 2021. Although nothing was found on his person, police requested to search his Range Rover, to which Logan refused to hand over his keys. Subsequently, police broke into the vehicle and discovered a bag containing a pistol.

Upon his arrest, Logan refused to allow officers into his two-bed flat in Beckenham. After a forced entry, a homemade stun gun and charger were found hidden beside his bed. The pistol turned out to be a realistic replica airgun, and the stun gun was operational. During his police interview, Logan remained silent but later claimed to a probation officer that the handgun had been planted in his car by someone else at the event, labeling it as a setup. He also stated that he had not considered the presence of the stun gun in his bedroom when police requested to search his residence.

The weapons offences, committed over three years ago, took an extensive period to reach court due to the current backlog, where it was not deemed a priority. Despite the delay, Logan’s defense counsel emphasized his client’s transformation, now working as a computer engineer and owning Logan’s Convenience Store in Brockley.

Judge Antony Dunne acknowledged the significant delay in the case and recognized Logan’s efforts to turn his life around. Handing him a 12-month community order, with rehabilitation days and unpaid work, Judge Dunne cautioned Logan against reoffending if he wished to avoid imprisonment.

Subheadings:

The Arrest and Discovery of Weapons
Logan’s Defense and Transformation
Judicial Decision and Caution

The trial for the murder of Harry Pitman, 16, who was fatally stabbed while waiting to watch New Year’s Eve fireworks, is currently ongoing. A 17-year-old boy faces charges of murder and possession of an offensive weapon in Primrose Hill Park. The trial, expected to last up to six weeks, will be closely monitored by MyLondon for updates and developments.

As the trial progresses, MyLondon will provide comprehensive coverage of the proceedings and any new information that may arise. Readers can sign up for WhatsApp alerts from the MyLondon team to receive timely updates and notifications about the trial. The community ensures privacy and exclusivity, with the option to leave at any time. Special offers, promotions, and adverts from MyLondon and its partners may also be shared with subscribers.

Overall, Logan’s case highlights the complexities and delays within the criminal justice system, underscoring the importance of legal processes and individuals’ efforts to reform their lives. The ongoing murder trial serves as a reminder of the tragic consequences of crime and the necessity for justice to be served.