Dramatic police footage has emerged showing the arrests of two Coventry men after a haul of weapons was recovered from a parked Vauxhall Corsa in Wood End. The discovery, and the subsequent searches that followed, have led to prison sentences for three local men.
How the firearms were found
Officers recovered four firearms — described in court material as two shotguns and two handguns — from a Vauxhall Corsa parked on a driveway on Wappenbury Road in November 2025. Modifications to the vehicle, including an altered bulkhead between the boot and the passenger compartment, allowed access to weapons stored inside.
- Two shotguns and two handguns were found inside the vehicle.
- Police located the Corsa near a property associated with one of the suspects.
- Further searches of that address produced a car key, cocaine, scales and several burner phones.
Forensic links and arrests
Forensic work tied one suspect to the firearms: DNA belonging to Kai Williams was found on two of the guns and his fingerprints on the bag that contained them. Further analysis identified Junior Dube and Tyreece Barnett-Leslie, who were later arrested. Body-worn camera footage released by West Midlands Police shows armed officers detaining the men during the operation.
"It was a significant recovery of four deadly weapons, which were no doubt being used to spread fear and violence in the West Midlands."
Sentences and local impact
All three men were sentenced at Warwick Crown Court. The custodial terms were as follows:
| Name | Address (as reported) | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Kai Williams | Wappenbury Road | 7 years 11 months |
| Junior Dube | Purcell Road | 5 years 1 month |
| Tyreece Barnett-Leslie | Crediton Close | 4 years |
Police also reported that, during the arrest of Barnett-Leslie, officers saw him discard a bag containing cocaine from a bedroom window. Messages recovered during the inquiry showed exchanges in which Dube sent photographs of firearms to Barnett-Leslie, including images later matched to weapons seized.
What this means for Coventry
Detective Chief Inspector Amar Patel described the recovery as significant for the West Midlands. The operation demonstrates the role of forensic analysis in linking people to weapons and the value of follow-up searches in disrupting local supplies of drugs and phones often associated with organised offending.
For residents of Wood End and surrounding neighbourhoods, the sentences reflect a successful criminal investigation that removed dangerous weapons from circulation. The case will also likely feature in local policing briefings as an example of the risks posed by concealed weapons and the investigative tools used to tackle them.
