Man's gun smuggle plot foiled by Border Force

A man's plot to smuggle an illegal firearm through the UK's postal system was foiled by Border Force officers, a court heard.

Wayne Williams, 37, was due to receive a parcel from the US in 2021 labelled as "car parts" but actually containing components to assemble a semi-automatic pistol.

Authorities intercepted it, removed the weapon parts and added a covert listening device before sending it to the intended address, Sheffield Crown Court heard.

Williams, who was recorded collecting the delivery, was sentenced to more than three years for conspiracy to fraudulently evade a prohibition and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon.

His sentencing heard Williams, of no fixed address, collected the parcel from an address in Sheffield and swore repeatedly when he discovered some of the delivery's contents to be missing.

Williams was later seen driving a motorbike down the A631 with an item matching the parcel's description down his top in an attempt to "disguise it and get rid of it".

Judge Charles Thomas told the defendant: "You knew what was meant to be in that parcel and that you were part of importing that item."

During a search of his home, officers recovered a diary featuring an entry recording the value of a pistol.

Williams initially denied his involvement during police interviews but pleaded guilty to the charges in August 2023.

Judge Thomas said he accepted Williams was "not the instigator" but played "a significant role in what was a small group enterprise".

He sentenced the father-of-one to three years and five months imprisonment, of which half has to be served in prison.

Williams, who has 23 previous convictions, had been in custody since May 2023, the court heard.

Judge Thomas told him that his release from prison was therefore "likely immediate or in the near future" due to the length of time he had already served behind bars.

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