Twelve men jailed for massive operation to convert blank firing weapons into deadly firearms in Sheffield
A group who worked to convert blank firing weapons into deadly firearms have been jailed for more than 150 years.
Between March and July 2023, police executed a series of intelligence-led warrant across Sheffield to uncover what they have described as one of the UK's largest blank firing weapon conversion operations.
So-called conversion factories - which turn legal blank firing weapons like air guns into deadly firearms - in the Darnall, Castlebeck, Richmond and Beighton areas of Sheffield were raided by officers.
In total, they recovered 108 blank firing weapons in various stages of conversion, as well as a significant amount of blank firing ammunition which had been converted into viable ammunition.
As the raids were carried out, detectives worked to identify the group responsible for this widespread operation and through CCTV trawls search warrants and proactive vehicle stops by neighbouring forces, investigators developed an in-depth picture of the hierarchal structure of the group.
In total, 12 people have been charged and convicted in association with this criminal operation.
Another person was charged due to these investigations and awaits a trial later this year.
Today (March 24), 10 people were jailed for conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited weapons and conspiracy to manufacture, sell or transfer ammunition:
- Zakaria West, 30, of Tithe Barn Way, Sheffield, has been jailed for 16 years
- Arron Ward, 31, of Smelter Wood Crescent, Sheffield, has been jailed for 16 years
- Andrew Loton, 36, of Bramshill Close, Sheffield, has been jailed for 12 years and 10 months
- Danny Milner, 41, of Gresley Walk, Sheffield, has been jailed for 18 years
- Antonio Lewis, 28, of Roundhay Gardens, Leeds, has been jailed for 17 years
- Paul Dungworth, 37, of Ridgeway Crescent, Sheffield, has been jailed for 11 years and six months
- Ashley Gregory, 36, of Danewood Avenue, Sheffield, has been jailed for 11 years and eight months
- Joshua Drury, of Highwoods Road, Doncaster, has been jailed for 11 years
- Ashley Stevenson, 22, of Spa Well Crescent, Rotherham, has been jailed for nine years
- Delroy Riley, 46, of Richmond Hall Avenue, Sheffield, has been jailed for 13 years
Two people had previously been found guilty of three counts of possessing a prohibited weapon and one charge of possessing ammunition in relation to this investigation:
- Shera Virk, 24, of Golf Lane, Leamington Spa, was jailed for nine years
- Joseph Steele, 34, of Brewery Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, was jailed for eight years
Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Iain Martin said: "There is no place for the sort of mindless violence gun crime causes in our communities. We will not tolerate gun crime in South Yorkshire.
"This investigation has resulted in a significant number of weapons seized. It is highly likely that these firearms would have got into the hands of violent criminals putting innocent members of the public at risk of harm.
"Converted blank firing weapons make up a large proportion of firearms discharges in South Yorkshire and this investigation forms part of our ongoing relentless approach to tackling firearm enabled criminality."