Birmingham man jailed for manufacturing firearms and ammunition

They were supplied between Birmingham and London

A Birmingham man involved in the manufacture and supply of improvised firearms has been jailed.

Kemarn Riley, of Ward End, Birmingham, was sentenced to 12 years and nine months for manufacturing a gun and ammunition at Birmingham Crown Court last Thursday (May 2). Riley also received five years each for two counts of being in possession of a firearm. His sentences will run concurrently.

West Midlands Police began an investigation into the 24-year-old’s activities in January last year.

Officers attended an address in Headingley Road, Handsworth, in relation to an earlier report of criminal damage. When they searched the property, they discovered a handgun – later identified as a white-knife shot gun – hidden behind a shoulder bag in the back garden.

The shoulder bag contained two live shotgun shells and another bag found in the garden contained two metal barrels, which officers suspected could be combined to make a simple, improvised weapon, commonly referred to as a ‘pistol slam’. A slam gun consists of a barrel that can contain a shotgun shell, which when another barrel is inserted, is discharged by a sliding and slamming motion of the user.

The guns, ammunition and bags were seized from the property for analysis and, following testing, were forensically linked to Riley, who was living at the address at the time.

In February, another gun was recovered from a vehicle in Handsworth. Riley was not present when the gun was seized, but when it was analyzed, it was again traced back to him, leading us to believe that he was involved in the supply and manufacture of these devices.

Riley was arrested in February at his home address on Asquith Avenue in Ward End.

During the search of his room during his arrest, a bag was recovered containing imitation firearms, rifle cartridges and metal barrels similar to those discovered earlier used in the manufacture of stun guns. Other items were also seized, including his phone.

An examination of Riley’s phone revealed messages, images and searches that suggested he was involved in the sale of firearms. When questioned in custody, Riley admitted buying pipes for an associate but claimed he was unaware of their use.

Investigating Officer PC Owen Zambra from our Major Crime Unit said: “We have built a strong case against Kemarn Riley and we are pleased with this outcome. The message is clear that we will not tolerate anyone profiting from the production and supply of illegal firearms.

“These weapons can maim and kill and are supplied to criminals who use them to intimidate and cause fear in others. We are working hard to take these guns off our streets and put those involved in their trade like Riley behind bars.”

First and foremost, for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Hits Radio app.