Giovanni Carmichael was sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court on July 17 for a number of offences, including possession of firearms and possession of drugs with intent to sell.
Prosecutor Craig Macgregor told the court that on December 23, 2023, Carmichael’s house was searched by the RSPCA on a warrant relating to animal welfare.
He had 20 dogs, including one pitbull terrier.
During the search, RSPCA officers found a prescription case full of bullets and a gun.
At this point, the search was stopped and police were called in for a full search.
This revealed another gun, at least 24 rounds of compatible ammunition, as well as 5.5kg of cannabis ‘bush’, some cannabis resin and other drug paraphernalia, including digital scales, presses and an ultra-sonic cleaner.
His phone data also revealed messages which indicated intent to supply.
It is understood that he had been involved in drug dealing from September 3 to his arrest on December 20, 2023.
David Bentley, defending, explained that Carmichael’s dog breeding business had been “destroyed overnight” following the change in UK laws around certain dog breeds and had been in the expensive process of moving his business to Spain.
He said the 37-year-old had “worked hard” for his legitimate business, but “took an illegal shortcut and now he is paying the price for that decision”.
New restrictions on XL Bully dogs came into force on December 31, 2023.
It made it illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, abandon or let XL Bully dogs stray.
Carmichael, of Moreton Road, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm of length less than 30cm/60cm, two counts of possession of ammunition for a firearm without a certificate, one count of possession of cannabis with intent to sell and one for the supply of cannabis.
Among the mitigating circumstances mentioned by the defence was the fact that Carmichael had already been remanded in custody for 20 months on 23-hour lock-up and without access to the rehabilitation services available to sentenced inmates.
Mr Bentley also said that the youngest of Carmichael’s three sons requires regular treatment at Manchester Children’s Hospital.
Judge Baxter said that the delay and his family circumstances were taken into consideration but that there was still high culpability as Carmichael had “played a leading role” in the supply of drugs on a “commercial scale” with the “expectation of substantial financial gain”.
Carmichael was handed a sentence of eight years and four months.