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Two brothers who supplied south London gangs with flare guns converted to fire shotgun cartridges were jailed today.
Jerome Aitcheson, 19, bought 13 flare guns online and made them capable of shooting 12-bore cartridges. He and his 22-year-old brother Ricardo sold them to criminals.
Police targeted the brothers after Jerome's second internet order was examined by a customs officer, Inner London crown court heard.
The officer looked through the parcel and discovered three flare guns - which require an import licence. Two illegal cans of pepper spray were also found.
Police raided the brothers' home in Brixton and found a modified flare gun with a shortened barrel added to it in an airing cupboard. Three of the modified guns found by police in south London were then traced to the brothers after DNA matched them to the weapons. The handguns seized by police were loaded with shotgun cartridges.
Eleven of the flare guns have been recovered by police and two are still unaccounted for. In the loft of the house police found a safe containing £4,250. Both brothers have a previous conviction for possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.
Judge Peter Grobel told the pair: "This was a conspiracy to equip south London gangs with 12-bore shot gun pistols." He sentenced Jerome to 12 years for conspiracy to possess firearms with intent and five years for possession of a firearm - both sentences to be served concurrently.
He told him: "The jury found rightly that you modified these weapons with one purpose - to endanger life."
Jailing Ricardo for six years, the judge said: "Your involvement and interest in guns as shown by a bad character report is disturbing."
Jerome was also convicted of conspiracy to transfer firearms; conspiracy to possess firearms; purchasing firearms without a certificate and possession of firearms without a firearm certificate. He was also found guilty of possession of criminal property - the £4,250.
Ricardo admitted two charges of possession of a prohibited weapon - the pepper spray. He was convicted of conspiracy to transfer firearms.
Reader views (1)
When these criminals are eventually released I hope a parole condition will require them not to live or visit London.
- Simon Ellis, London E8, 30/07/2009 06:44
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