Plumber who converted blank-firing guns into lethal weapons jailed

A plumber who converted blank-firing guns into lethal weapons has been jailed following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Evan Girdlestone, 48, of Robinson Road, Colliers Wood, was sentenced to seven years and two months in prison at Croydon Crown court on Friday.

He had previously admitted four counts of possessing firearms, three counts of possessing ammunition and three counts of converting blank firearms.

Girdlestone was arrested by NCA officers on May 18, 2023, as he approached his parked car in Croydon.

Hidden under the passenger seat of the car was a converted gun with two magazines of ammunition.

Girdlestone had an industrial unit in Wimbledon which he used as a production line for the conversion of top-venting blank firers into lethal weapons.

NCA officers found converted weapons, imitation firearms, 174 rounds of live ammunition and multiple tools used to convert blank firers.

In total Girdlestone was in possession of four converted guns and four unconverted blank guns.

Girdlestone had also test fired his converted weapons at the unit shooting through phonebooks attached to a concrete wall. NCA officers discovered messages he had sent to his associates about being injured by a ricochet bullet.

Debbie Palmer-Lawrence, head of the NCA’s Armed Operations Unit, said: “Girdlestone was reckless and a real danger to the public.

“He is now in the right place after excellent work by a variety of NCA teams to build the rock solid case against him. He had no choice but to plead guilty.

“Tackling the criminal use of firearms is a key priority for the NCA and we work with partners at home and abroad to do everything in our power to protect the public.”

Pictured top: Evan Girdlestone and two guns found by NCA officers in Girdlestone’s Wimbledon industrial unit (Picture: NCA)