SEVEN people have been jailed after police recovered more than 30 handguns, a converted sub-machine gun, dozens of component parts for firearms and hundreds of bullets left lying around homes in Wokingham and Sandhurst.
Police described their activity as brazen.
Officers from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU), working with Thames Valley Police, raided a home on London Road, Wokingham and searched a property in Munnings Drive, Sandhurst.
During their search, on October 31, 2022, officers recovered the weapons, and also found a work-bench with a press and ammunition re-loading equipment in the kitchen.
SEROCU said analysis of the weapons recovered showed the property was essentially a firearms factory in which imitation firearms were being converted into functioning guns for onward sale.
The seven sentenced are:
Kenneth Brittain, 35, of Munnings Drive, Sandhurst has been sentenced to 18 years and nine months’ imprisonment.
Ben Phillips, 44, of London Road, Wokingham has been sentenced to 18 years and nine months’ imprisonment.
Danny Walker, 33, of Simmonds Close, Bracknell has been sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment.
They pleaded guilty in April last year to one count each of conspiracy to sell/transfer a pistol, it being a prohibited weapon and conspiracy to sell/transfer ammunition.
Katie Lee, 31, of Munnings Drive, Sandhurst was sentenced to three years and nine months’ imprisonment.
She pleaded guilty in April last year to one count each of encouraging or assisting the manufacture of prohibited weapons and encouraging or assisting the sale or transfer of prohibited weapons.
Mark Dyson, 53 of Seymour Court, Crowthorne, was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.
He was found guilty by unanimous jury verdict, following a trial in October last year, of one count each of conspiracy to sell/transfer a pistol, it being a prohibited weapon and conspiracy to sell/transfer ammunition.
Jacob Peters, 37, of Brunswick Hill, Reading was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment.
He pleaded guilty in September this year to two counts of possession of firearms with intent to transfer or sell.
Deyonte Bryan, 28, of Severn Way, Tilehurst, Reading, was sentenced to six months suspended and 10 days community service.
He pleaded guilty to one count of failing to comply with the direction of a Section 49 RIPA notice and found guilty of a further count of the same offence.
Brittain, Phillips and Lee were within the address when the warrant was executed in October 2022 and subsequently arrested.
Dyson was found by detectives to have been storing the firearms and parts as well as moving them and collecting other firearms for the manufacture to take place.
Thames Valley Police arrested Peters in his car. He was found to be carrying a handgun and ammunition. A further identical handgun and ammunition were also found at his home address.
These firearms had links to the factory.
Walker was also arrested by Thames Valley Police in October 2022.
Officers seized a handgun and ammunition from him that was identical to what was seized from Peters.
This also matched with the firearms from the factory.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Kay Hutchings, of SEROCU, said: “Firearms have no place in our communities, and I am glad that we were able to bring these seven individuals to justice.
“The group were brazen with their activity, with many of the weapons strewn throughout rooms in the property along with bowls of ammunition including previously fired cartridges in the process of being loaded with other projectiles, which can be highly dangerous.
“Bryan further tried to frustrate our investigation by refusing to provide his PIN for a number of phones which is an offence, he was prosecuted accordingly.
“As a result of our investigation we have undoubtedly prevented a large number of firearms from making their way into our communities.
“If you have any information about firearms in your community, please report it to your local police force by calling 101. Alternatively, if you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via its website.”
