Man who converted guns in back garden jailed for more than 10 years

A man who converted blank firearms for criminals from a workshop in his back garden has been jailed for more than 10 years.

Luke Parr, 23 (01.04.2001) of Maxey Road, Dagenham, appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday, 10 February where he was sentenced to a total of 10 and a half years’ imprisonment for two counts of possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition and manufacturing firearms.

He had previously pleaded guilty, at the same court, to all the allegations against him.

On 10 June 2024, Parr was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder following the near fatal shooting of a man in Dagenham days earlier.

Following his arrest, officers searched Parr’s home and discovered a workshop in his back garden from where he was running a firearms conversion factory. During the search they also found two handguns that had already been converted for potentially lethal use as well as ammunition and all the equipment required to convert more guns.

Some of the guns he was converting included Turkish-manufactured ‘top venting blank firers’.

This sort of gun is increasingly being linked to criminal activity in London and across the UK, including serious violence and even murder. They were previously legal to own and many thousands were bought lawfully, but they have since been found to be easily convertible using household tools and are now, as a result, illegal.

A national amnesty is underway to take as many of them off the streets as possible, depriving criminals like Parr with the opportunity to turn them into lethal weapons.

Detective Superintendent Tim Mustoe, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said:“This case highlights the ongoing risk posed when criminals with the necessary knowledge get their hands on readily convertible blank firing guns.

“From a shed in his back garden, Parr was able to turn blank firers into guns that could be used to cause serious harm on the streets of London. It is right that he has been sentenced to a lengthy term in prison.

“The key to stopping those like Parr is to dramatically reduce the number of these guns in circulation. It’s why it is so important that the ongoing amnesty is a success.

“We know the majority were bought lawfully by people with no ill intent who have done nothing wrong. It’s when they fall into the wrong hands that the damage can be done.

“I would urge anyone who has one of these guns at home to do the responsible thing and hand it in at a police station as part of the amnesty.

“They will not face police action for possession of the gun at the point of surrender if they do so during the amnesty, but if they choose not to do so now and are found to have one of these guns at a later date, then the consequences will be quite different.”

Details of the amnesty can be found below:

Turkish-manufactured top venting blank firers (TVBFs) can be handed in at police stations across London until Friday, 28 February.

This is part of a four week national amnesty taking place across the country.

TVBFs are legal to buy in the UK without a licence, unless they are readily convertible.

Tests by the National Crime Agency and police forces show models produced by four Turkish manufacturers – Retay, Ekol, Ceonic and Blow – are readily convertible and are therefore illegal.

Anyone found to be in possession of one, after the amnesty period, could face up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

During the Amnesty period, those handing in a Turkish manufactured TVBF will not face prosecution for the illegal possession and will not have to give their details.

However, the weapons will be examined to determine if they’ve previously been used in serious violence or other criminality.

While TVBFs can be handed in at any police station during the amnesty, the Met is asking people to aim to go to one of these stations:

• Edmonton
• Chingford
• Colindale
• Wembley
• Islington
• Stoke Newington
• Bethnal Green
• Ilford
• Lewisham
• Bexleyheath
• Croydon
• Bromley
• Kingston
• Brixton
• Acton
• Charing Cross
• Hammersmith

Anyone intending to hand in a TVBF as part of the amnesty is encouraged to check the opening times of the relevant station on the Met Police website. To receive advice on how best to transport the weapon responsibly from home to the police station, phone 101 before travelling.

If you know of people involved in illegal firearms activity, you should call the police on 101 or report the information to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Every call to Crimestoppers is anonymous and potentially vital to preventing or solving serious crimes. Removing an illegally held firearm from circulation may just save someone’s life.