A man has been arrested and charged following the discovery of a loaded handgun at a property near Ashford, Kent.
Kent Police officers executed a search warrant at a residential address in Watery Lane, Westwell in the early hours of Sunday 13 April 2025. During the search, a police dog located the loaded weapon hidden in the loft space of the home.
Officers also seized a knuckleduster from the premises during the raid.
Arrest and Charges
Dean Goodearl, 38, of Watery Lane, was arrested at the scene. He has since been charged with three offences:
-
Possession of a firearm
-
Possession of ammunition
-
Possession of an offensive weapon (knuckleduster)
Goodearl appeared before Margate Magistrates’ Court on Monday 14 April, where he was remanded in custody. He is due to appear at Canterbury Crown Court on Monday 12 May.
Ongoing Investigation
A spokesperson for Kent Police confirmed the charges and praised the efforts of the officers and the police dog involved in the successful recovery of the weapon.
The investigation remains ongoing, and no further details have been released at this stage.
