An electrician told a court how he discovered a handgun and ammunition in the ceiling of a Warwick home while carrying out repairs.

William Tull, a self-employed electrician, made the discovery while working on a property on Warwickshire Road.

He called police, and an armed response unit attended while a search by other officers and a trained sniffer dog revealed crack cocaine hidden in glass jars.

The homeowner, Desiree O’Connor, has denied possessing a handgun, possessing ammunition and possessing controlled drugs.

She appeared yesterday for the start of trial at the Supreme Court, where her recorded police interview was shown to the jury.

Ms O’Connor denied possessing a firearm — Walther PPQ .45 handgun — without a licence, along with possession of ammunition without a licence. The bullets were said to be seven cartridges of Winchester .45 auto and one cartridge of S&B .45 auto.

She further denied possessing cocaine freebase with intent to supply. All charges are from September 13, 2024.

Jury members were shown the DVD of a police interview where she vehemently denied any connection with the gun, ammunition and drugs.

She said: “I have no knowledge of the firearm or the drugs. I have not got a clue what that drug is. I don’t know what they are talking about.

“I have many people come to visit me all the time, and people do have access to my house, but there is no way I would suspect they would do anything untoward.

“I would never even suspect anybody would bring that into my house. I am a good person. I do things in the community.”

Ms O’Connor added: “I have no understanding as to what some of those drugs are. I have never known anyone to do that in my presence. I am shocked.

“I have never touched anything pertaining with drugs or firearms. Never, ever, ever. I just don’t understand where that has come from.”

She told officers she was unable to “even imagine” because she would never conceal such items in her home.

Later in the recording, she told police officers that they would find no DNA or fingerprints on the gun, bullets or drugs because she had never touched them.

Prosecutor Kael London asked Tianna Mullan, a junior crime scene investigator, what she did on the day in question. She said she and a colleague, who took photographs, were shown around the residence by uniformed and armed officers.

Jury members viewed iPads depicting the residence and a tote bag that contained a handgun in a vacuum-sealed plastic bag, plus another with ammunition.

Photos showed an access hatch into the ceiling from Ms O’Connor’s closet, where the bag was found by Mr Tull.

Pictures of Ms O’Connor’s bedside cabinet showed drawers open and two glass jars containing two plastic twists with an off-white substance.

Mr Tull told the court he had been troubleshooting an electrical problem, and had previously worked on issues with lighting in a hallway and bedroom.

He spoke of previously having a key to the house, although a door would be left open for access. On this occasion, however, the main door was locked, and he gained access through an unlocked bedroom.

Ms O’Connor said she had two tenants, one of whom had a key to her property.

In the police taped interview, she again denied any knowledge of the weapon or drugs.

She said of the drugs: “I have not seen that stuff in my life. If I knew what it was, then it would have gone in the trash.”

The trial continues before Puisne Judge Alan Richards.

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