Former soldier faces jail over gun factory
A former Army sergeant who made guns for gangs operating in Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester is facing a long jail term.
Detectives said Paul Alexander, 53, was a “significant” supplier and had been tracked down following the launch of an operation against gangs in the wake of the shooting of 11-year-old Rhys Jones in Liverpool two years ago.
Investigators said they hoped Alexander’s arrest had dealt a significant blow to gangs operating in the Midlands and North West.
Police said they found a “gun factory” at a house Alexander rented in Bardfield Saling, Essex, and his weapons and ammunition had been linked to 28 firearms crimes in the UK.
Investigators said Alexander used 30 aliases and ferried guns and ammunition to the Midlands and North West in hire cars.
Chelmsford Crown Court was told yesterday that Alexander had admitted possessing firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life, converting imitation firearms into real firearms, buying and selling prohibited ammunition and money laundering. He is due to be sentenced in November.
Police said Alexander was born Paul Daintry in Bury, Lancashire, and had lived in Stoke-on-Trent and Bath as well as regularly travelling abroad.
Police suspect he made hundreds of thousands of pounds and an investigation has begun to find and seize assets.
Alexander was arrested in September 2008 after a 12-month operation involving detectives from Merseyside, Essex and investigators from the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca).
