How detectives dismantled criminal gang who made and sold ‘Assassination kits’

Описание: A gang of criminals responsible for creating and distributing ‘assassination kits’ are due to be sentenced for their crimes.

This was due to an extensive investigation by Nottinghamshire Police and East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU).

Ronald Knowles, of Milton Avenue, Alfreton, acquired blank firing handguns and ammunition, which he converted into viable firearms at his home address.

Each ‘assassination kit’ was individually packaged containing a handgun, silencer, magazine and ammunition wrapped in latex gloves.

Gary Hardy, of The Birches in Ravenshead, organised and controlled the supply of these ‘Assassination Kits’.

These were then sent to Steven Houston, of Breach Oak Lane, Corley, Warwickshire who supplied these weapons to members of the criminal underworld.

These included known criminal – Jason Hill. Officers raided Hill’s house where they found two handguns, two silencers and ammunition in a safe hidden in the garden.

Officers carried out a lengthy proactive investigation to determine the scale of the operation.

In August 2023, they managed to tie the investigation together and stopped a vehicle at Gallows Lane in Measham.

Inside this vehicle, they found a white box containing four firearms. Each handgun was individually packaged and had with it a silencer, 10 rounds of ammunition in a magazine wrapped in a latex glove.

Detectives believe these were ready to be placed in the hands of criminals and used on their intended targets.

Detectives managed to link these firearms to both Hardy and Knowles, which included the DNA of Knowles on some of the firearms and his fingerprints on the boxes that contained the weapons.

Firearms officers descended onto Knowles property where they found him in his back garden setting fire to evidence.

He dropped a bag to his side containing an unconverted handgun, ammunition, and a throwing star.

In a large outbuilding to the rear of his Milton Avenue address, officers
found an array of tools and machinery used for converting blank firing handguns into viable firearms.

A huge quantity of weaponry was also seized from inside Milton Avenue such as crossbows, knives, axes, machetes, swords, gas powered weapons, airguns and associated ammunition.

Knowles pleaded guilty to all offences from the outset at Nottingham Crown Court and Hill also pleaded guilty.

Hardy and Houston were found guilty during the trial, which concluded on Friday 23 May.

They are due to be sentenced in the coming months.

For the full story and more information on our appeals, arrests, charges, sentencing and other updates please visit our website: https://www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/