You shoot-They DIE!

In 1997 Car Boots Cornwall had only three locations Falmouth, Truro and MABE so during the weekdays Lou and I used to work together in Dig & Delve our second hand shop in Swanpool Street just down the road from Trago’s and the busy Falmouth docks. Customers used to come from all over the world from the seamen and crews of ships from Russia and the Baltic States. The ships would remain at the docks for repairs and we were constantly offered wares from some of these hardnosed crews in particular the Ruskies who tried every way possible to sell us items what amounted to real junk, horrible fags and even worse tobacco. Around the corner in New Street was a TV and sound system repair shop, the management had it all their way until ‘Diggies’ opened and took a large slice of their business hence we were unpopular with them and where possible they would try to stir the shit in particular relating to ‘stolen gear’ The Police used to monitor all second hand shops, generally we had a reasonable working relationship with the local bobbies on the beat who would come to give us a list of stolen gear and look at our register of items bought in the shop.

In November 1997 there was a Russian Ship the ZODIAK which docked at Falmouth for repairs and the crew headed for the town centre to sell their wares and hopefully con the local shopkeepers. Two of these men went to the shop around the corner made a suggestion to the management who said ‘we are not interested go and see Geoff at Dig & Delve he will help you out’ the burly Ruskies arrived at our shop would not talk to Louise but said “We want to speak with that man” pointing at me! One of then said he wanted to get the 26” TV we had on display he did not have any money but offered me a pen wallet in exchange for the TV and a Kilo of Mercury. I asked him more about the pen wallet which he opened and produced what was identical to a silver Parker pen but heavier accompanied by another pouch which contained nine .22 bullets, he then unscrewed the pen got a bullet showing me where to put it into the James Bond style pen gun!
“So what do I want with a pen gun it would not be legal to own in this country” I asked and he said in perfect English ‘You have someone come into your house you don’t want them there so you load this you shoot-THEY DIE! I will give you this and the bullets and a Kilo of Mercury for that TV over there’ ‘No, no, no we cannot do that in this Country I would be put in prison’ and what would I want the Mercury for’? After what seemed like ages of the pleas to do a deal I refused telling the men not to allow the gun and Mercury get into the wrong hands as they left the shop.

I discussed the proposed deal with Lou and I was worried enough to tell the story by phone to the Police at Falmouth. Within minutes the sirens hailed their arrival and we gave descriptions of the Ruskies saying it looked as though they were either going back to ship or in TRAGO!
They asked if Louise would go with them to identify the men and she got into the Police car for a tour around the town centre ending up at Trago’s where they recruited some parking attendants to seal off the front and rear of the store while the search went on. Louise recognised the two men as they attempted to leave TRAGO they were arrested and taken back to the ship where the Police took possession of the gun and Mercury. One of the men Mr Ossiepenko (who had over £2000.00 on him when arrested) was charged with trying to sell the gun and Mercury was fined about £1000.00 for the offence. The pen gun was taken to Exeter by the police where it was loaded and tested under supervision and fired at a water melon, on impact the melon was blown to BITS! My real concern was if the gun had got into the wrong hands someone could have been seriously injured if not killed!

A few days later after Mr Ossiepenko had appeared in court he and about 8 other burly Ruskies were walking the other side of the street in Falmouth as I was returned from the bank they recognised me and pointed their hands like guns towards me saying BANG! BANG! I clenched my BUTT cheeks and walked on, thank god their bloody ship left the next day!

Ps; Mercury poisoning can KILL!!