Oldham men jailed for 20 years for converting replica guns into real firearms

Two men who converted blank-firing pistols into lethal guns and sold them on have been jailed for a combined total of 20 years.

The men were arrested following an investigation by detectives cracking down on illegally converted guns which are then passed on to criminals across the region.

GMP's Serious and Organised Crime Group launched Operation Lycra in 2020 to target two men involved in the conversion of blank firing pistols. The pair, both from Oldham, were found to be illegally converting Retay weapons, which are legal semi-automatic blank firing pistols and have a similar appearance to illegal firearms.

Retays are available online and the conversion of such weapons is among one of the priorities for detectives both from GMP and across the country.

A total of 10 converted guns were found and seized by detectives with six at Corey Atkinson's address on Farm Road in Limehurst and the rest linked by forensics and intelligence by detectives. Atkinson was found to be illegally converting the Retay weapons.

In October 2020, officers carried out a search at his address in Oldham where they discovered six converted Retay guns, 46 modified bullets and 38 other bullets, sawn off metal tubes and a cutting disc.

Detectives also later found that Mark McNamara, of Bankfield Drive, Fitton Hill, had arranged and purchased a number of the blank firing Retays on behalf of Atkinson and was also involved in the test firing of weapons.

McNamara, 29, was previously jailed for six years on 13 November 2020 for possession of firearms but further discoveries from text message exchanges were made that found a wider conspiracy alongside Atkinson.

A total of five Retay guns were bought by McNamara along with an online order of stainless steel tubes which were used in the conversion. Detectives building the case carried out a raid at McNamara's address where a black pistol was found hidden in the rear garden along with six loose rounds.

The pair were sentenced at Manchester Minshull Street on Tuesday (30 November 2021). They both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell/transfer firearms and ammunition and conspiracy to convert imitation firearms into prohibited weapons and Atkinson was sentenced to 12 years and McNamara was sentenced to eight years.  

Detective Superintendent Chris Mossop, who led the investigation, said: "Yesterday's significant sentences are a huge step forward in our aim to take those involved in converting legal firearms into deadly weapons we're working relentlessly to really drive a wedge between organised crime groups and the possession, supply and use of weapons in Greater Manchester.

"Atkinson was clearly an illegal converter with the help of McNamara - the pair were working together to turn Retay guns into live firing deadly weapons where they could end up in the hands of criminals and ultimately cost someone's life.

"These two men are two more put behind bars and therefore a gap in the supply chain for criminals. We will not stop pursuing such dangerous and scheming individuals across our region and our focus remains on taking strong action against those in society who brazenly involve themselves in the use, trade and criminal conversion of firearms in Greater Manchester and we will ensure that those we suspect of having such involvement will face prosecution and be taken from our streets."

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