Men jailed for possession of lethal firearms (first copy)

Six men were sentenced today at Croydon Crown Court for possession of firearms and ammunition.

The firearms include a converted Magnum handgun loaded with three rounds of ammunition, a converted Glock & nine rounds of ammunition, a Steyr machine pistol loaded with five rounds of ammunition, two converted Brocock Olympic. 38's and a Magnum in the process of conversion.

DC Carruth, the case officer, said: "Hopefully these lengthy prison terms given to the six individuals today will act as a deterrent to others who choose to be involved in the conversion use and supply of firearms throughout London and the Home Counties.

“The ruling by Lord Chief Justice Dyson will greatly assist not only Trident but other teams throughout the country to charge and successfully convict dangerous criminals in possession of firearms and ammunition of the substantive section 16 offence.”

The six were arrested and charged by the Metropolitan Police Service's anti-shootings command, Trident.

Investigations showed Waller ran a cottage industry, converting imitation and blank-firing handguns in to lethal weapons using a conversion factory located in a cupboard in his living room.

Together with the five other gang members, they made up a network of runners, middlemen, purchasers and end-users.

Marvin Welch, 29, of SE20 stores finished and partly finished firearms in his flat.

Wesley Huggins, 25, of SW8 and Adrian McNeish, 27, of SE22 acted as middlemen.

Darren Yaw Opoku, 19, of Surrey acted as a courier.

Cadele Clarke, 25, of SW16 bought weapons from Waller.

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