Woman jailed for dealing with sawed-off shotgun that was taken to Kempston school Bedford News

A Bedford woman was jailed for possession of a sawed-off shotgun when she was just 17.

Keesha Kalyan, now 21, was discovered when the shotgun and ammunition were found in the bag of another pupil at a Kempston school in October 2018.

Police found text messages between the two discussing a ‘dotted’ – urban slang for a shotgun – being taken to Kalyan’s home address and her asking the boy not to say anything about it.

Snapchat messages were also found referring to the gun when the boy was taken into custody and she was arrested on suspicion that she was involved.

Her fingerprints were found on the bag containing the gun, but she claimed the “dot” she was referring to was a religious ornament.

Kalyan, who lived in Bedford at the time but in Cowley, Uxbridge during the trial, was jailed for three years on Wednesday April 20 after being convicted in November last year of possessing a prohibited firearm.

Detective Sergeant David Gordon, who investigated, said: ‘We cannot stress enough that if you are caught carrying any type of illegal firearm, even if it is acts of imitation, there will be a price to pay and it will probably be in the form of a stay in prison.

“Using the excuse that it’s not yours or that you’re wearing it for your own protection just won’t sit well with us.

“Carrying a prohibited weapon can have devastating consequences, not only for those affected, but also for the families of those injured by such actions. If you have any concerns or feel like you are being pressured, intimidated or coerced into storing a weapon for someone, please let us know and we will try to help.

“Fortunately, gun crime remains extremely rare in Bedfordshire and by working alongside our partners, recorded incidents of serious youth violence have fallen by 24% in Bedfordshire in the 12 months to April. 2021, compared to the same period until April 2019.

“We will continue to do everything we can to stamp out this crime and ensure that those responsible for inciting violence are held accountable for their actions.”