Locations
Cramhurst Lane, Witley, Godalming, Surrey, GU8
Description
A gun smuggler who admitted he was a bit of a paedophile has been convicted of importing illegal firearms through the post.
A National Crime Agency probe found that Aaron Bishop, 39, took a delivery of guns with Martin Beard, 38, via the dark web.
A court heard that police searched Bishops house and found child pornography on a USB drive buried in his garden.
Bishop and Beard were convicted of importing firearms but a jury at Birmingham Crown Court cleared them of importing ammunition.
Bishop also admitted possessing indecent images of children and Beard admitted producing cannabis.
Mark Richards, 38, who delivered guns to the pair, was jailed for five years and four months.
Senior investigating officer Dawn Cartwright of NCAs border policing command, said: Richards used Beard and Bishop to accept the guns because he believed they were off law enforcements radar.
It has been a long wait to put these men before the court and we are very pleased with the jurys decision.
We will continue to target and pursue those supplying illegal guns regardless of how long it takes.
Bishop, of Andover Way, Aldershot, was jailed for four years and 10 months and Beard was sent to prison for four years and six months.
Richards, of Cramhurst Lane, Godalming, admitted conspiring to import prohibited Glock handguns and ammunition.