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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. |