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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/14/antique-gun-dealer-supplied-weapons-and-bullets-used-by-gangsters
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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Antique gun dealer supplied weapons and bullets used by gangsters | Antique gun dealer supplied weapons and bullets used by gangsters |
| (about 19 hours later) | |
| Ammunition and guns supplied by Paul Edmunds found at more than 100 crime scenes, Birmingham crown court told | |
| Steven Morris | |
| Tue 14 Nov 2017 15.40 GMT | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 13.47 GMT | |
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| A 66-year-old antique firearms dealer from a Gloucestershire village has been found guilty of supplying weapons and handcrafted bullets to gangsters across the UK. | A 66-year-old antique firearms dealer from a Gloucestershire village has been found guilty of supplying weapons and handcrafted bullets to gangsters across the UK. |
| Ammunition made by Paul Edmunds and weapons supplied by him have been found at more than 100 crime scenes including gangland shootings and even a firearms attack on a police helicopter. | Ammunition made by Paul Edmunds and weapons supplied by him have been found at more than 100 crime scenes including gangland shootings and even a firearms attack on a police helicopter. |
| Edmunds crafted bespoke bullets for use in vintage weapons such as Smith & Wesson pistols from the US and 19th-century French and Russian guns that he brought into the UK supposedly as collectors’ curiosities. | Edmunds crafted bespoke bullets for use in vintage weapons such as Smith & Wesson pistols from the US and 19th-century French and Russian guns that he brought into the UK supposedly as collectors’ curiosities. |
| He also imported prohibited 1950s Colt pistols following trips to Chicago, Las Vegas and Denver and falsely claimed they were more than a century old and therefore antiques. | He also imported prohibited 1950s Colt pistols following trips to Chicago, Las Vegas and Denver and falsely claimed they were more than a century old and therefore antiques. |
| Edmunds supplied the guns and ammunition to an outwardly respectable Birmingham physiotherapist called Mohinder Surdhar after the pair met at a legitimate gun fair in 2008. In turn, Surdhar passed them on to a notorious Birmingham crime group called the Burger Bar gang, who kept some and sold others to underworld contacts. | Edmunds supplied the guns and ammunition to an outwardly respectable Birmingham physiotherapist called Mohinder Surdhar after the pair met at a legitimate gun fair in 2008. In turn, Surdhar passed them on to a notorious Birmingham crime group called the Burger Bar gang, who kept some and sold others to underworld contacts. |
| When West Midlands police arrested Edmunds at his modest home in Hardwicke they found 100,000 rounds of ammunition in his garage, bedroom and attic. | When West Midlands police arrested Edmunds at his modest home in Hardwicke they found 100,000 rounds of ammunition in his garage, bedroom and attic. |
| Detectives have linked 1,000 rounds of ammunition and 17 guns found at UK crime scenes to Edmunds but believe many others guns and ammunition seized or still in the hands of criminals passed through his hands. | Detectives have linked 1,000 rounds of ammunition and 17 guns found at UK crime scenes to Edmunds but believe many others guns and ammunition seized or still in the hands of criminals passed through his hands. |
| He also once took 6,000 live rounds of ammunition to a buyer in France in the boot of his car with no export documentation and without telling the authorities. | He also once took 6,000 live rounds of ammunition to a buyer in France in the boot of his car with no export documentation and without telling the authorities. |
| DC Phil Rodgers of West Midlands police, who led the investigation, likened Edmunds and Surdhar to the unlikely crooks Walter White and Jesse Pinkman from the US television show Breaking Bad. | DC Phil Rodgers of West Midlands police, who led the investigation, likened Edmunds and Surdhar to the unlikely crooks Walter White and Jesse Pinkman from the US television show Breaking Bad. |
| He said: “They were like the Breaking Bad of the gun world – on the face of it both decent men but using their skills and expertise to provide deadly firearms. | He said: “They were like the Breaking Bad of the gun world – on the face of it both decent men but using their skills and expertise to provide deadly firearms. |
| “But this was no TV drama – these were real weapons, real bullets, real victims. Their actions have had a devastating impact on communities by fuelling violent crime, leading to fear and bloodshed. | “But this was no TV drama – these were real weapons, real bullets, real victims. Their actions have had a devastating impact on communities by fuelling violent crime, leading to fear and bloodshed. |
| “Edmunds has an encyclopaedic knowledge of firearms. It’s not an easy task making obsolete calibre bullets to fit antique guns; it would have taken several days to make a box of 50. Surdar also had an armoury at his home and we believe Edmunds was teaching him the art of bullet making. | “Edmunds has an encyclopaedic knowledge of firearms. It’s not an easy task making obsolete calibre bullets to fit antique guns; it would have taken several days to make a box of 50. Surdar also had an armoury at his home and we believe Edmunds was teaching him the art of bullet making. |
| “Our investigation has undoubtedly prevented many more firearms and countless rounds of ammunition getting into criminal hands and in all likelihood saved lives.” | “Our investigation has undoubtedly prevented many more firearms and countless rounds of ammunition getting into criminal hands and in all likelihood saved lives.” |
| One Colt revolver Edmunds brought into the country via Heathrow in April 2011 was found by West Midlands police officers just 25 days later in a bag hidden behind a block of flats in Handsworth. | One Colt revolver Edmunds brought into the country via Heathrow in April 2011 was found by West Midlands police officers just 25 days later in a bag hidden behind a block of flats in Handsworth. |
| It was loaded with bullets that forensics experts proved were made in Edmunds’ armoury by matching microscopic lines on the casings with those on his ammunition presses. | It was loaded with bullets that forensics experts proved were made in Edmunds’ armoury by matching microscopic lines on the casings with those on his ammunition presses. |
| He also smuggled a Colt pistol made for US law enforcement agencies into the UK in November 2013 that was used the following month to shoot dead a man at a Christmas party in a London nightclub. | He also smuggled a Colt pistol made for US law enforcement agencies into the UK in November 2013 that was used the following month to shoot dead a man at a Christmas party in a London nightclub. |
| Rodgers added: “Edmunds claimed he had no idea Surdar was passing the guns to criminals. We didn’t believe him and clearly neither did the jury. | Rodgers added: “Edmunds claimed he had no idea Surdar was passing the guns to criminals. We didn’t believe him and clearly neither did the jury. |
| “In interviews he spoke candidly about his disdain for the UK’s strict laws on firearms and the handgun ban introduced in the wake of the Dunblane tragedy. He has used his position of authority in the firearms world to help him bring guns into the country undetected. It’s hard to overstate the significance of these convictions. We have cut off a major firearms supply chain, and one that has been used by dangerous men to commit serious offences.” | “In interviews he spoke candidly about his disdain for the UK’s strict laws on firearms and the handgun ban introduced in the wake of the Dunblane tragedy. He has used his position of authority in the firearms world to help him bring guns into the country undetected. It’s hard to overstate the significance of these convictions. We have cut off a major firearms supply chain, and one that has been used by dangerous men to commit serious offences.” |
| Edmunds told police he “didn’t give a shit” about potential victims. He said he was “not responsible for the actions of somebody that buys some things”, adding his “duty of care” only extended to not selling to people who “didn’t look right”. | Edmunds told police he “didn’t give a shit” about potential victims. He said he was “not responsible for the actions of somebody that buys some things”, adding his “duty of care” only extended to not selling to people who “didn’t look right”. |
| While 17 pistols linked to Edmunds have been taken out of circulation, police said that of the 280 guns imported between 2009 and 2015, the whereabouts of 207 remained a mystery. | While 17 pistols linked to Edmunds have been taken out of circulation, police said that of the 280 guns imported between 2009 and 2015, the whereabouts of 207 remained a mystery. |
| Edmunds was found guilty of conspiracy to transfer prohibited weapons and ammunition, two counts of perverting the course of justice, transferring prohibited weapons, possession of prohibited weapons and importing firearms from America. He pleaded guilty to exporting ammunition. | Edmunds was found guilty of conspiracy to transfer prohibited weapons and ammunition, two counts of perverting the course of justice, transferring prohibited weapons, possession of prohibited weapons and importing firearms from America. He pleaded guilty to exporting ammunition. |
| He has been remanded in custody until 20 December for sentencing. Surdhar pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiracy to transfer prohibited weapons and ammunition and is awaiting sentence. | He has been remanded in custody until 20 December for sentencing. Surdhar pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiracy to transfer prohibited weapons and ammunition and is awaiting sentence. |
| Gun crime | |
| Birmingham | |
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