Record label owner who was caught with a loaded gun, balaclava and gloves in Manchester claims he was 'shooting a music video' and denies being in notorious Crips gang
- Zico Reid, 34, says loaded weapon, gloves and balaclava were props for a video
- Reid, a co-owner of Quality Street Records, was tracked by armed police who later found a Walther handgun in undergrowth in Rusholme, south Manchester
- Said he needed a weapon for his protection after his colleague was kidnapped
- He denies being a member of the Rusholme Crips, a notorious Manchester gang
A record label owner accused of leading a double life as a gang member claims he was planning to use a loaded gun, gloves and balaclava as props for a music video.
Zico Reid, 34, denies being a member of one of south Manchester's most notorious street gangs - the Rusholme Crips.
Prosecutors allege he was a 'highly respected' member of the gang when he was stopped by armed police after he was tracked around south Manchester's backstreets in 2019.
Reid was arrested and police found a Walther handgun in undergrowth in an alleyway off Heald Avenue, Rusholme.
He admitted possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, but denies it was related to gang activity, telling a Manchester court he needed the weapon after his business partner was kidnapped.
Asked why he had gloves and a balaclava which had been rolled up when he was arrested, Reid told police he had plans to 'shoot a music video'.
Prosecutors allege record label boss Zico Reid, 34, led a secretive double life in underworld crime for one of south Manchester's most notorious gangs - the Rusholme Crips
Reid told a Manchester court he needed this Walther handgun (above) for his own protection after his business partner at Quality Street Records was kidnapped
Speaking at Manchester Crown Court, Reid claimed he was warned he 'would be next', after a £100,000 ransom and 10 kilograms of heroin and cocaine were demanded for the safe return of his partner at Quality Street Records.
'My business partner was kidnapped and everyone was saying that I would be next,' Reid said.
Reid would later explain that the balaclava and gloves were intended for a music video he was producing.
'We had plans to shoot a music video. We was going have a few kids on motorbikes out.'
He added that he believed his business partner had been kidnapped in a bid to 'get at him' and to try and secure a music deal.
When asked by police why he had a balaclava, loaded gun and gloves, Reid said he was using them as props in 'a music video'
Reid was arrested after this Walther handgun (above) was found in undergrowth in an alleyway off Heald Avenue, Rusholme
Reid said: 'They seem to think that I have friends in that area, people that are doing well for themselves, and thought if they was doing well if they threatened me I could make them do well as well.'
He said he had received threat to life 'Osman' warnings from the police, and was hearing 'rumours on the streets' on a 'daily basis'.
'They phoned my phone, the kidnappers, saying that they have got my mate,' Reid said.
'They were just asking for money. I told them I didn't have the money and to let him go.'
The Rusholme Crips emerged from the Gooch Gang, who were, alongside the Doddington gangs, part of the cliques that led to the city being labelled 'Gunchester' in the 1990s.
Prosecutors allege that Reid was a 'highly respected' member of the Rusholme Crips, who 'earned his stripes' and was known within police circles as a 'gang member'.
'Zico is certainly someone that has earned his stripes within the Rusholme Crips,' said DC Graham Parry, of GMP's anti-gang XCalibre Taskforce.
Prosecutors allege that Reid (above) was a 'highly respected' member of the Rusholme Crips, who 'earned his stripes' and was known within police circles as a 'gang member'
His fellow accused, Ali Ismail, 29, (pictured) admitted possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, as well as possessing prohibited ammunition and having a bladed article
Speaking of 34-year-old Reid, DC Parry said: 'He has done very well to survive that long.'
He said younger gang members would more often be on the streets, and that Reid may be seen if there was 'some enforcement that needed to be done'.
'It would not be a regular occurrence you would see Zico on the streets,' DC Parry said.
The officer said that Reid had previously been banned from attending Manchester's annual Caribbean Carnival.
He said: 'We as the police have a duty of care to the community, we used to draw a banning list for gang members who were deemed to be currently active within the last 12 months.
'Zico was down as one of those individuals.'
He said Reid had been seen to associate with known gang members.
Another officer said Reid had made a hand sign affiliated to the Rusholme Crips towards him, moving his fingers to create a C, to refer to Crips.
Reid was arrested on August 6, 2019, after a police surveillance operation.
His co-defendant Ali Ismail has admitted possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, as well as possessing prohibited ammunition and having an article with a blade or a point.
Three weeks earlier, Ismail, 29, was arrested after a loaded Smith and Wesson Magnum was recovered from the basement of house in Dickenson Road, Rusholme.
The gun as well as 20 bullets were found in an old oven.
Reid had been in contact with Ismail earlier that day.
The hearing continues, with Reid, of Eva Street, Rusholme, and Ismail, of Dickenson Road, Rusholme, expected to be sentenced tomorrow.
