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Two men found guilty over UK gun smuggling Two men found guilty over UK gun smuggling
(35 minutes later)
Two men have been found guilty of smuggling assault rifles and sub-machine guns into the UK.Two men have been found guilty of smuggling assault rifles and sub-machine guns into the UK.
Harry Shilling, 26, and Michael Defraine, 30, were convicted of two charges each at the Old Bailey.Harry Shilling, 26, and Michael Defraine, 30, were convicted of two charges each at the Old Bailey.
The weapons, said to be worth more than £100,000, were brought on a boat from France to Kent in August last year. The court heard the pair had intended to sell them to criminal gangs.The weapons, said to be worth more than £100,000, were brought on a boat from France to Kent in August last year. The court heard the pair had intended to sell them to criminal gangs.
Two other defendants, Jennifer Arthy, 42, and John Smale, 58, were cleared.Two other defendants, Jennifer Arthy, 42, and John Smale, 58, were cleared.
The National Crime Agency described the haul as the "biggest seizure of weapons on the UK mainland".The National Crime Agency described the haul as the "biggest seizure of weapons on the UK mainland".
'Serious danger''Serious danger'
After Shilling and Defraine were found guilty of conspiring to import and sell the weapons, the judge, Mr Justice Topolski, told them they both faced the possibility of life sentences.After Shilling and Defraine were found guilty of conspiring to import and sell the weapons, the judge, Mr Justice Topolski, told them they both faced the possibility of life sentences.
"Criminals like you at or near the top of criminal organisations invariably pose a serious danger to the public," he said."Criminals like you at or near the top of criminal organisations invariably pose a serious danger to the public," he said.
A life sentence would come in for "serious consideration", he added.A life sentence would come in for "serious consideration", he added.
David Payne, 43, Richard Rye, 24, and Christopher Owen, 30, had already pleaded guilty to smuggling the weapons into the country.David Payne, 43, Richard Rye, 24, and Christopher Owen, 30, had already pleaded guilty to smuggling the weapons into the country.
Payne and Rye also admitted the second count relating to conspiracy to sell the arsenal.Payne and Rye also admitted the second count relating to conspiracy to sell the arsenal.
The guns - 22 assault rifles similar to AK-47s, and nine Skorpion sub-machine guns - were brought into the UK from Boulogne on a 38ft (12m) cruiser, the MV Albernina, the court heard.The guns - 22 assault rifles similar to AK-47s, and nine Skorpion sub-machine guns - were brought into the UK from Boulogne on a 38ft (12m) cruiser, the MV Albernina, the court heard.
All had originally been deactivated but were reactivated before they, along with a large amount of ammunition, were smuggled up the Medway into Kent, arriving near Cuxton Marina on 10 August last year.All had originally been deactivated but were reactivated before they, along with a large amount of ammunition, were smuggled up the Medway into Kent, arriving near Cuxton Marina on 10 August last year.
But the National Crime Agency had the plotters under surveillance and swooped to seize the cache before it could be buried and then sold, the court heard.But the National Crime Agency had the plotters under surveillance and swooped to seize the cache before it could be buried and then sold, the court heard.
The court heard each of the 22 Czech-made assault rifles would have fetched up to £4,000 even though they were sold at "shockingly low" prices in Eastern Europe.
The Skorpion machine guns, originally developed for use by Czech special forces, would have netted £3,500 apiece.
On 11 August, the gang was seen by investigators unloading the cruiser, the jury was told, and a number of large heavy bags were loaded into a white van which was driven away by Payne.
Shilling and Defraine were arrested outside a branch of DIY store Homebase where they had just bought spades and other tools, the court heard.