Brothers jailed for supplying sawn-off shotgun

Johnny Connors (left) and Michael Connors (right) have both been jailed for five years

Two brothers have been jailed after supplying another man with a sawn-off shotgun.

Michael Connors, of Raleigh Avenue in Walcot, and his younger brother Johnny Connors, of Purlieu in Lydney, were sentenced to five years each at Gloucester Crown Court on 28 February.

They were found guilty of transferring a prohibited weapon to 32-year-old Scott McGuinness, who was jailed for five years for possessing the gun in October 2023.

Gloucestershire Constabulary said the guns are "used in criminal networks to intimidate or cause serious violence".

Jurors at the four-day trial were told police officers found CCTV showing the two men visit McGuinness's flat in Lattistep Court, Gloucester, where they believed the pair had handed him the gun.

The footage then showed McGuinness placing a bundle of clothing - which included the gun wrapped in a scarf - into a compartment under the seat of a moped in a communal car park.

Scott McGuinness attempted to run away from police while completely naked

The police found the sawn-off side-by-side 12-gauge shotgun after raiding his flat later that evening.

During the raid McGuinness jumped out of a window naked to evade officers.

Michael Connors, 33, and Johnny Connors, 22, refused to answer any police questions in interview and did not give any evidence during the trial.

Sentencing them His Honour Judge Rupert Lowe said: "The two of you were caught on camera taking a nasty weapon to someone, which can only be for use in a crime.

"There is something terrible about your life choices which involve committing violent crime and then sitting silently and hoping your lawyers can get you off, to the great distress of your families.

"When you are eventually released, then what? Please don't tell me that it will be start this all over again with more offences, more lawyers and more sentences."

Det Sgt Samantha Martin, from Gloucestershire Constabulary's serious and organised crime unit, said: "Sawn-off shotguns as seen in this case have absolutely no legitimate or lawful use.

"Although Scott McGuinness has already been convicted for taking possession of the weapon, our officers worked tirelessly to ensure that all those who could be identified as being involved in the acquisition of it were brought to justice."