Arms dealer jailed for four years

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An arms dealer from Kent has been jailed for four years for illegally shipping machine guns outside the UK.

John Knight, of Valley Road, Fawkham, pleaded guilty to moving weapons from Iran to Kuwait, contrary to article nine of the Trade in Goods Order 2003.

He was jailed at Blackfriars Crown Court on Friday.

A confiscation order of £53,389 was also made with a further sentence of 18 months if Knight fails to pay the sum within six months.

This is an excellent example of law enforcement and prosecuting agencies working together against illegal trafficking in weapons David Green

The Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) said Knight had an application to move 130 machine guns from Iran to Kuwait turned down in 2006 because of fears they might fall into "undesirable hands".

It said a shipment of arms was then intercepted by the Kuwaiti customs service in January, and he was arrested and charged following a raid at his address on the same day.

According to the RCPO, it was the first use of legislation brought into force in 2004 to prevent the uncontrolled movement of arms by British citizens between countries outside the UK.

David Green QC, director of the RCPO, said: "This is an excellent example of law enforcement and prosecuting agencies working together against illegal trafficking in weapons."