A man has been found guilty of turning replica submachine guns into live weapons linked to over 50 shootings, including at least seven murders.
Grant Wilkinson, 34, was convicted at Reading Crown Court of seven offences of converting and supplying firearms and ammunition.
Wilkinson, of no fixed abode, adapted replica Mac-10 guns in a shed in Three Mile Cross, near Reading, Berkshire.
Gary Lewis, 38, of Bourne End, Bucks, was cleared FARC releases further hostages ...
Farc hands hostages to Red Cross ...
Britain's Lewis Hamilton wins German Grand Prix ...
Mayor Johnson 'misled' by deputy ...
Hints of 'time before Big Bang' ...
New 007 book breaks sales record ... of all charges.
Jurors found Wilkinson guilty of seven offences which included conspiracy to convert imitation firearms, conspiracy to sell or transfer firearms, conspiracy to sell or transfer ammunition, two counts of possession of firearms with intent to endanger life, and two counts of possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life.
Derelict buildings
Two charges against him of possessing a prohibited weapon were dropped.
Mr Lewis was cleared of all nine charges.
Using the name Grant Wilson, Wilkinson bought 90 blank-firing replica guns in July 2004, which he told the registered dealer in Northolt, Middlesex, were props for a James Bond film.
Guy Savage, of Sabre Defence Industries, said this seemed plausible as he had previously supplied Bond films.
He then converted the guns in two outbuildings in the grounds of The Briars in Basingstoke Road, Three Mile Cross - a derelict property that Wilkinson took over and rented out to tenants.
The live weapons were later sold to criminals, prompting a noticeable rise in shootings over the coming years, the trial heard.
(BBC)
<< Back