Man explained his DNA was found on an illegal gun because he wanted to shoot himself Glen Preston pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm Glen Preston, of Stonyfield, Bootle (Image: Merseyside Police ) A gang burst into a man's home and told him they "had a problem" before taking a gun from a cardboard box and "brazenly" shooting another man in broad daylight. Glen Preston, 55, was the "minder" of a modified gun which was used in the shooting of a 26-year-old man near a primary school in Harrops Croft, Netherton, on January 5 last year. ‌ Joel Hastings and brothers Jake and Daniel Howells were jailed for a total of 44 years in connection with the street shooting in September last year. Preston appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today, April 22, where he pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm. Simon Christie, prosecuting, said: "On the day of January 5 2024, the firearm was discharged and CCTV coverage caught the the incident and identified the individuals involved. Merseyside police was then left with the task of tracing the weapon that had been used in the incident, and seeing if other people were involved. "On that day in question, the defendant communicated with Jake Howells on a significant number of occasions. There were 44 occasions when phone calls were made or attempted to be made. Article continues below "The firearm was found at the defendant's address and his DNA was found on that weapon. The defendant, when arrested, was asked to explain how his DNA came onto the firearm. He explained that he had, in depression, attempted to take his own life. He said he took the gun out of its box, but had a change of heart." The court heard Preston, of Stonyfield, Bootle, had been at home on the day of the shooting when Hastings and the Howells brothers entered his address and said they "had a problem." They went away with the gun and returned later with the firearm, which was placed in a cardboard box. Mr Christie said: "He (Preston) went onto say that threats were not made against him, but their (Hastings and the Howells') behaviour was intimidating. Given the circumstances of the shooting, which was brazen in the extreme, and given what the Crown knows about the three defendants, the Crown does not attempt to argue that these were not three very intimidating individuals." ‌ He added that Preston had 36 past convictions for 70 offences, with most charges relating to burglary, dishonesty, or drug-related offences. Lloyd Morgan, defending, said: "Reference was made to communications between the defendant and Jake Howells on the day. But the Howells were Preston's drug suppliers as well, and there's nothing to suggest their communications were anything other than this." He said the 55-year-old suffered from anxiety and depression, and had been subjected to fear and intimidation by Hastings and the Howells brothers. ‌ But Judge Louise Brandon said Preston's case did not amount to the exceptional circumstances required to reduce his sentence below the minimum five years. Sentencing him to five years in prison, she said: "I accept you acted as a consequence of fear and intimidation from others and I accept that you have the mental health conditions you do. It's argued that your culpability is affected such that it would lead to exceptional circumstances but I cannot find that. "What I'm prepared to conclude is that the guilty plea and mitigating factors I'm aware of mean that a sentence above the minimum would be excessive." Article continues below Hastings, of Andrew Street, Walton, was previously sentenced to 16 years for possessing of a firearm with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm. Jake Howells, 24, of Langham Street, Walton and Daniel Howells, 24, of Field Lane, Litherland, were both previously sentenced to 14 years in prison for conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm.