Gang jailed after record homemade 'slam guns' find

Left to right: Ringleader Christopher Jones, Sophie Wootton, Lee Blake and Drew Williamson were all involved in a drugs conspiracy

Four people involved in a drugs operation that led to a police force's biggest ever discovery of improvised firearms - known as "slam guns" - have been jailed.

The group, led by Christopher Jones, were part of a drugs conspiracy, while Jones's associate Lee Blake kept the slam guns at his home.

Sophie Wootton was also involved alongside Drew Williamson, and Joanne Allen, who turned 56 on the day of her sentencing.

Police found eight of the guns, made with two pieces of pipe fitted together, at a house in Nottingham on 3 November 2022, before inquiries led to further firearms and drugs discoveries.

Break-up during trial

Nottingham Crown Court heard Wootton was returning from her brother's wedding on 23 October 2022, when a taxi driver became concerned about an argument she was having over the phone with Jones.

When he was waiting for her outside her home, the taxi driver offered to take Wootton somewhere else, then when she refused he called the police, who searched her house and found cannabis and a "viable handgun", with two magazines' worth of ammunition, and a box of shotgun cartridges.

Nottinghamshire Police said about 2.5kg of cannabis - with an estimated street value of up to £20,000 - was at the address in Barry Street, Bulwell, along with about £55,000 in cash.

At sentencing on Monday, the court was told that Jones had "manipulated" both Wootton and Williamson - neither of whom knew he was in a relationship with both of them at the time, but were "plainly besotted" with him.

During the trial, Williamson broke up with Jones while giving evidence from the witness box, which judge Michael Auty KC said showed how long it took for her to realise he viewed her and other women in his life "as nothing more than a disposable commodity".

These slam guns were found wrapped together, alongside a box of shotgun cartridges

Days after the Barry Street discovery, on 26 October, police caught up with group ringleader Jones when he and Drew Williamson were seen leaving a house in Knowles Walk, Arnold, and getting into a vehicle together, which was stopped by officers.

Officers found 10kg of cannabis in the boot, with a further 14 then seized when the address they had just left was searched. Cocaine and thousands in cash were also recovered.

The total estimated street value of the drugs seized from the address and the car was up to £333,000.

Three further properties linked to Jones - in Egypt Road, Basford, Raymede Drive, Bestwood, and Deepdene Way, Broxtowe - were all later found to be housing cannabis grows to varying degrees.

The latter discovery was made by officers on 27 October, with Joanne Allen the next person to be detained by police when officers located her inside that house.

Then, on 3 November, the slam guns and several shotgun cartridges were seized from a cupboard while officers were executing a warrant in Thomas Close, St Ann's, Nottingham.

Each of the homemade weapons looked alike, police said, with two pieces of pipe fitted together with a firing pin designed to slam and discharge a single shot.

The eight recovered is a record for the Nottinghamshire Police area.

In the same house, owned by Blake, more ammunition was found that matched the handgun recovered days earlier in Barry Street.

'Nefarious business'

Judge Auty criticised all the defendants for their involvement for "the misery and suffering wrought on countless lives, brought about by nothing more than avarice", adding the involvement of dangerous firearms was "terrifying and disturbing".

Addressing Jones, he said: "It strikes me that you have a considerable degree of business acumen.

"You're industrious, you're plainly bright, and yet you put all that to work in this nefarious, miserable business."

Judge Auty also praised the "thoroughly noble" behaviour of the taxi driver for being "the Good Samaritan", and formally commended him and two PCs involved in the case to the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire.

Officers discovered this handgun at a house in Barry Street, Nottinghamshire Police said

What are 'slam guns'?

By Jeremy Ball, social affairs correspondent, BBC East Midlands

Slam guns are simple, makeshift firearms that can be used as lethal weapons.

They work by slamming a smaller metal pipe inside a slightly larger one, to fire a shotgun cartridge.

Slams guns have been used since World War Two, and some criminals manufacture them because professional firearms are difficult to access in the UK.

Nottinghamshire Police say they are "exceptionally dangerous" weapons and the consequences in this case could have been "catastrophic".

The defendants and sentences

• Christopher Jones, 33, of Glamis Road, Sherwood, was jailed for 25 years for possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, possessing a prohibited firearm, possessing ammunition without a certificate, being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possessing with intent to supply cocaine, and possessing criminal property

• Sophie Wootton, 32, of Broxtowe Lane, Aspley, was jailed for eight years. She was found guilty of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, possessing a prohibited firearm, possessing ammunition without a certificate, and possessing criminal property

• Drew Williamson, 28, of Knowles Walk, Arnold, was jailed for five years. She was convicted of possessing with intent to supply cocaine and possessing criminal property

• Lee Blake, 40, of Thomas Close, St Ann's, was jailed for six years, and must serve another three on extended licence once released. He pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, possessing ammunition without a certificate, and supplying cannabis

• Joanne Allen, 56, of Deepdene Way, Broxtowe, was handed a 12-month sentence, which was suspended for two years. She had admitted producing cannabis

In addition, Jones, Wootton, and Williamson also pleaded guilty to supplying cannabis but denied the rest of the offences they had been charged with.

However, a jury found them guilty of the other offences after the eight-week trial in January.