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
