15 people sentenced to 119 years for firearms and drugs offences

Members of crime gang who were involved in a conspiracy to possess firearms, including a Beretta, an Uzi sub machine gun and a Baikal self-loading pistol, have today (4 October 2019) been sent to prison for 119 years.

Those sentenced were involved with an organised crime groups from Wavertree, who through their ownership of these weapons brought fear and intimidation to communities in Merseyside.

Members of the group were charged with drugs and firearms offences. The gun and drug conspiracies span from February 2017 to May 2018 and concentrated on 14 key events between those dates.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Reardon, said: “Those convicted today were caught up in a web of conspiracy involving the supply of guns and drugs on the streets of Merseyside.

“The investigation, codenamed Operation Blush, began in February 2017, after the National Ballistics Service identified that a Beretta on Merseyside had been used 16 times within Merseyside. Officers were determined to find the weapon and take it off the streets. Just 3 months later a 26-year-old motorcyclist was shot to the head on Stevenson Street, Wavertree. Miraculously his helmet saved him, but despite his lucky escape the victim refused to speak to police.

“Undeterred detectives continued to carry out their investigation and were able to identify two groups believed to have links to the gun.


“Following the meeting of a Wavertree organised crime group and a Kirkby organised crime group within a Wavertree park, the Beretta was later recovered at an address in Windfield Close, Kirkby. Officers also recovered an Uzi sub machine gun; a Beretta double barrelled shotgun (sawn-off); a Baikal self-loading pistol and a further double barrelled shot gun (sawn-off) - were recovered by officers, along with caches of ammunition, Class A drugs (cocaine and diamorphine) and Class B drugs with an estimated street value of between £95,870 and £143,700, during the investigation.

He added: “Thanks to the sterling work of NABIS who were able to identify the Beretta and the Uzi submachine gun, along with DNA of some of the suspects, we were able to focus our investigations and identify those involved. Today they have been sentenced to ?, which shows the severity of their crimes. Two of the weapons we recovered were responsible for 21 shootings on Merseyside - 16 shots fired and five resulting in injury, this could easily have been a very different story.

“One shooting on Merseyside is one too many. Whilst there is no doubt in my mind that Merseyside is a safer place with these weapons off the streets there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that criminals know that the people of Merseyside will not tolerate the use of firearms on our streets. Together with our communities we need to transfer the fear of gun crime back on to those prepared to use guns on our streets – if you have information, which could help us put those involved in serious and organised crime before the courts, let us know and we will take positive action.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Jo Clews of the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS), said: "NABIS had identified this firearm (Beretta 9000S) as the most criminally active firearm in the UK, posing a significant threat to the public. Merseyside Police worked closely with NABIS to proactively investigate the firearm leading to its recovery. The approach Merseyside Police took in this case is one that NABIS promote as best practice across law enforcement.

“The criminal use of firearms poses a real risk to the public, it’s vital that NABIS work closely with Police forces to reduce the risk. I would like to thank Merseyside Police and the NABIS team for the effort they put into recovering the most criminally used firearm in the UK, leading to the successful convictions in this case.”

Notes to editor

Video including NABIS footage and interview with Det Chief Inspector Steve Reardon(https://youtu.be/m8Yyzoiygcw)

Those sentenced are:
• James Peter Lunt, 29 years, of Celendine Close, Wavertree, was at the head of the Wavertree organised crime group. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess firearms (Beretta 9000s; double barrelled shotgun; Uzi submachine gun; Beretta double barrelled shotgun; and a Baikal self-loading pistol) with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to possess prohibited firearms for transfer; conspiracy to possess ammunition without a certificate; conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (cocaine) and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs (cannabis). He was sentenced to 21 years, with a three year extended license.

• Michael Connerty, 32 years, of Lemon Close, Kensington. He was with James Lunt on the day that the Uzi was seized in Nickleby Close, Toxteth. He was found guilty of Conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life; Conspiracy to possess prohibited firearms for transfer; Conspiracy to possess ammunition without a certificate and Conspiracy to supply Class B controlled drugs (cannabis). He was sentenced to 14 years.

• Thomas Porterfield, 37 years, of Llangollen, his DNA was found on the Uzi. He was found guilty of Conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life; Conspiracy to possess prohibited firearms for transfer and Conspiracy to possess ammunition without a certificate. He was sentenced to 13 years.

• Catherine McGuinness, 50 years, of Nickleby Close, Toxteth. The Uzi submachine gun was recovered from her home on 19 October 2017. Ammunition was also recovered from the address along with cannabis with an estimated street value of about £500, cocaine also with an estimated street value of £500 and an envelope containing £1000 in cash, which was her payment for storing the weapon and ammunition. She was found guilty of Conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life, Conspiracy to possess prohibited firearms for transfer and Conspiracy to possess ammunition without a certificate. She was sentenced to 12 years.

• Alan E'Von, 22 years, of no fixed abode, his DNA was recovered at the scene of the injury shooting on Stephenson Street, Wavertree on 19th May 2017. He was found guilty of Conspiracy to possess firearms (Beretta 9000s) with intent to endanger life and Conspiracy to possess ammunition without a certificate. He was sentenced to 13 years.

• Lee Spencer Brown, 30 years, of Holmrook Road, Norris Green, was a prominent member of the Wavertree organised crime group. He was found guilty of Conspiracy to supply a Class B controlled drug (cannabis). He was sentenced to six and-a-half years.

• James Bennett, 25 years, of Arnold Grove, Wavertree, was a prominent member of the Wavertree organised crime group. He was found guilty of Conspiracy to supply a Class B controlled drug (cannabis). He was sentenced to five and-a-half years.

• Lee Jones, 25 years, of Mile End, Vauxhall, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to supply a Class B controlled drug (cannabis). He was sentenced to four years.

• Adam Bigley, of Windfield Close, Kirkby, was previously sentenced to 6 years 8 months for possession of firearm (Beretta 9000s) after pleading guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition without a firearms certificate after the loaded Beretta 9000s was found hidden at his home address on 18th July 2017.

• Anthony O’Reilly, 29 years of Huddleston Road, Wavertree, was part of the Wavertree crime group and significant amounts of ammunition and Class A and B drugs were recovered from his address on 18th May 2017. O’Reilly was previously sentenced to 5 years 6 months after entering guilty pleas.

• Thomas Browne, 32 years, of Cornhill, Liverpool city centre, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class B drugs. He was part of the Wavertree crime group and was previously sentenced to 27 months.

• Liam Ackers, 25 years, of Mill Lane, Wavertree, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class B drugs. He was part of the Wavertree crime group and was previously sentenced to 27 months.

• Shabba Odita, 26 years, of Lemon Close, Kensington, was previously sentenced to 14 years after pleading guilty to possessing firearms and Class A drugs with intent to supply after a Baikal handgun with ammunition, a sawn-off shotgun and quantities of heroin and cocaine were found at his home address.

• Max Jones, 22 years, of Mile End, Vauxhall, pleaded guilty to possession of a Class B drug (cannabis) with intent to supply. He was previously sentenced to a 2 year community order.

• Kieran Hodge, 29 years, of Frampton Road, Walton, pleaded guilty to production of a controlled drug (cannabis). He was previously sentenced to 6 months. He was found not guilty of conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to possess prohibited firearms for transfer.


History of the Beretta 9000s

1. Shots fired/damage to signpost at side of Kilpatrick Drive, Erskine - 30 January 2010
2. Unfired cartridges recovered from Fyfe Shore Road, Port Glasgow – 5 February 2010
3. Shots fired at a property on Britonside Avenue, Kirkby - 25 December 2010
4. Shots fired incident at Mossdale Road/Travis Drive, Kirkby - 22 August 2011
5. Shots fired at a property on Salvia Way, Kirkby - 22nd August 2011
6. Shots fired incident in Leeside Avenue, Kirkby - 24 February 2012
7. Shots fired at a property on Belmont Drive, Anfield - 9 April 2012
8. Injury discharge in the area of Great George Square/Hardy Street, Liverpool – 27 April 2012
9. Shots fired at a property on Wapshare Road, Norris Green - 24 May 2012
10. Shots fired at a property on Planetree Road, West Derby - 26 May 2012
11. Shots fired at a property on Planetree Road, West Derby - 14 July 2012
12. One of two guns involved in a shots fired incident in the area of Haswell Drive/Boode Croft, Stockbridge Village - 30 July 2012
13. One of two guns involved in a wounding incident in the area of July Road, Anfield - 5 September 2012
14. Wounding incident in the area of Bridge Gardens & Deysbrook Lane, West Derby - 5 November 2012
15. Shots fired incident at the Combo Chip Shop, West Derby Road, Tuebrook - 21 December 2012
16. Shots fired at a property on Simonswood Lane, Kirkby - 2 January 2013
17. Injury discharge at the Moorfield Centre, Kirkby - 18 May 2013
18. Shots fired at a property on Sapphire Street, Tuebrook - 19 May 2014
19. Injury discharge in the area of Stevenson Street, Wavertree - 19 May 2017

History of the Uzi sub machine gun

1. 25 February 2013, three bullets recovered from an address on Warbreck Moor, Liverpool.

2. 21 October 2012, Shots fired incident in the vicinity of Augusta Close, Liverpool, L13, resulting in damage to a vehicle.

3. 26 April 2011, shots fired at an address Adcote Road, Liverpool, L14. Shots fired at an address causing damage to window, door frame and internal walls along with ‘strike’ marks to outside wall.

4. 25 February 2010. Quantity of fired items recovered from Freeport Engineering, Dublin Street, Liverpool (Operation Newhaven). During a search of this premises a number of fired bullets were recovered, inside what was described at court as a ‘weapons factory.
• Lee Malone – Charged with conspiracy to sell prohibited firearms in contravention of section 5 of the firearms act 1968 contrary to section 1 (1) Criminal Law Act 1971
• James Dunne – Charged with conspiracy to sell prohibited firearms in contravention of section 5 of the firearms act 1968 contrary to section 1 (1) Criminal Law Act 1971
• Joseph O’Rourke – Charged with conspiracy to sell prohibited firearms in contravention of section 5 of the firearms act 1968 contrary to section 1 (1) Criminal Law Act 1971Criminal Law Act 1971
• Neil Hidderley - Charged with conspiracy to sell prohibited firearms in contravention of section 5 of the firearms act 1968 contrary to section 1 (1) Criminal Law Act 1971
• Michael Johnson – Charged - CONSPIRACY TO SELL OR TRANSFER PROHIBITED WEAPONS, contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977. Sentenced to 8 years

5. 27 November 2009 , shots fired at a vehicle M62, Broadgreen, Liverpool.
A number of shots fired at a vehicle whilst driving close to the ‘Rocket’ junction of the M62 in Liverpool. Vehicle significantly damaged with numerous bullet holes.

6. 1st December 2007, shots fired at Pizza Perfect, 24 Finch Road, Liverpool 14.