By Charlotte Webster-
A plumber has been sentenced to seven years and two months in prison following an extensive investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) into the conversion of blank firing guns into lethal weapons.
Evan Girdlestone,(pictured) aged 48, was apprehended by officers from the NCA’s Armed Operations Unit (AOU) on May 18 last year in Croydon, south London.
The arrest came after a meticulous operation by NCA officers, who discovered a converted gun hidden under the passenger seat of Girdlestone’s car, along with two magazines of ammunition. Further investigation led authorities to Girdlestone’s industrial unit in Wimbledon, which served as a hub for the production and conversion of firearms.
Inside the unit, officers unearthed a cache of converted weapons, imitation firearms, live ammunition, spent ammunition, and a multitude of tools used in the conversion process. Girdlestone was found to be in possession of four converted guns and four unconverted blank firers, highlighting the scale of his operation.
The seriousness of Girdlestone’s activities became apparent when investigators discovered evidence of test firing within the unit, with bullets penetrating phonebooks attached to a concrete wall. Girdlestone even messaged associates about sustaining injuries from ricocheting bullets, underscoring the reckless nature of his actions.
The NCA’s investigation, which commenced in April 2023, received vital support from the National Firearms Targeting Centre, enhancing the intelligence gathering on illegal firearms nationwide. Girdlestone’s admission to multiple charges, including possessing firearms, ammunition, and converting blank firearms, further solidified the case against him.
Debbie Palmer-Lawrence, head of the NCA’s Armed Operations Unit, condemned Girdlestone’s actions as reckless and a severe threat to public safety. She praised the collaborative efforts of various NCA teams in building a robust case that compelled Girdlestone to plead guilty.
“Tackling the criminal use of firearms remains a top priority for the NCA,” Palmer-Lawrence emphasized. “We will continue working tirelessly with our partners, both domestically and internationally, to safeguard the public from such dangerous activities.”