Garden gun-making gang jailed for weapons supply

A garden gun-maker and a notorious"drugs general"have been jailed for producing and distributing "assassination kits" for organised crime groups across the country. Roland Knowles, 64, known as "the armourer", was arrested by armed police as he tried to burn the evidence in his back garden in Alfreton, Derbyshire, in August 2023. The kits were sold by "facilitator" Gary Hardy, 62, from his home in Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire, and distributed by Steven Houston, 65, from Corley, Warwickshire. Jailing Hardy for 23 years, Knowles for 13-and-a-half years, and Houston for 25 years, Judge Mark Watson said: "Each of you contributed in different but important ways – you all knew what you were doing." Hardy sent "assassination kits" to Houston, who supplied the weapons to members of criminal gangs elsewhere. These included known criminal and "customer" – Jason Hill, 23, who was jailed for four years after pleading guilty before his trial. Officers found two handguns, two silencers and ammunition in a safe hidden in the garden in a raid on Hill's house. Hill is currently serving a life-sentence for the"brutal and cold-blooded" murderof Owen Fairclough, whose body was found in Breaston, Derbyshire, in June 2023. Abi Joyce, for the prosecution said: "[The Crown] asserts that Hardy and Houston were respected heads of organised crime groups for the manufacture and sale of numerous weapons… these were provided with silencers and have been referred to as assassination kits. "These weapons found their way into the hands of serious crime groups across the country." Police recovered weapons from Coventry, Wolverhampton, Essex and London – which the court heard were linked to Knowles' makeshift factory in his back garden. The prosecution said Knowles was referred to as "the armourer", and was employed by Hardy and Houston to make the firearms, and evidence suggested he was paid by the pair to do so, the court heard. "The prosecution say these three men played leading roles in a long-standing conspiracy to sell weapons," Ms Joyce added. The makeshift factory was discovered as part of an investigation into Hardy by Nottinghamshire Police and the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU). Nottingham Crown Court was told Knowles converted at least 33 replica pistols, and had enough bullets for a further 80 kits that were packaged with silencers and latex gloves. Det Ch Insp Mark Adas said this was the "this is the largest firearms manufacturing operation" he has come across and one of the biggest in the East Midlands. Police began with their arrests after stopping a van in Measham, Leicestershire, in August 2023. They seized a box containing four "lethal" self-loading pistols, each individually packaged with a silencer, blue nitrile gloves and 10 rounds of live ammunition. The force said the bullets had been converted from blank firing to live. "These were lethal assassination kits. I call them that because they were individually packaged. The firearms were designed to kill. It is highly concerning," Det Ch Insp Adas said. The court heard as officers moved into Knowles's garden in Milton Avenue, drone footage captured the moment he emerged from an outbuilding with his hands up before being handcuffed in front of a bonfire he started. In mitigation for Knowles, Balraj Bhatia said the defendant was "extremely remorseful" and was described as an "exemplary prisoner" by staff. Emma Goodall KC, for Hardy, said he has health problems and has shown good character in prison, becoming a mentor to other inmates. Gordon Cole KC, for Houston, said the defendant was remorseful for his actions and knew the impact it had on his wider family. Mr Cole KC also said there was a "lack of evidence" he was the head of an organised crime group. Clive Stockwell KC, for Hill, said he "does not accept" the prosecution's case he bought the firearm from Houston and there was no evidence the firearms found were fired. Hardy of The Birches, Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire, was found guilty of: Knowles, of Milton Avenue, Alfreton, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to: Houston, 65, of Breach Oak Lane, Corley, Warwickshire, was found guilty of: Hill, aged 23, Derby Road, Risley, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to: Follow BBC Nottingham onFacebook, onX, or onInstagram. Send your story ideas toeastmidsnews@bbc.co.ukor viaWhatsAppon 0808 100 2210.