Man who made his own firearms from his Havering home jailed

Raymond Frederick Nugent, 73, of Coltishall Road, Hornchurch, cut cupboard templates before pressing metal to create the weapons.

The self-described "gun nut" also designed his own firing mechanisms.

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The National Crime Agency (NCA) alerted the Met after intelligence revealed that Nugent had imported a blank firing weapon from the Czech Republic.

In November 2018 a warrant was executed and officers discovered a number of safes at his home.

Inside, they found batches of firearms and ammunition that had been carefully wrapped and stored.

Officers found a number of safes and several firearms that Nugent had made from scratch himself at his home in Havering. CREDIT: Metropolitan Police

Nugent was arrested and the firearms were seized and taken for examination.

Several of the items Nugent had made from scratch himself at his workshop, using drills and vices to create weapons fully capable of firing, according to the Met.

An expert pointed out during the trial that one weapon Nugent had produced was 25 per cent more powerful than a similar factory-produced firearm.

Multiple firearms were found at Nugent's Havering home, according to the Met (Image: Metropolitan Police)

During interview Nugent described himself as "a gun nut", but said that he had had no intention of firing or selling the weapons.

He was bailed and later released under investigation and then charged by postal requisition in October 2019.

He was found guilty of 45 firearms offences and on Friday (January 20) was sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

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Detective Superintendent Victoria Sullivan said: "Though no evidence was found of any associated criminality linked to Nugent's activities, the arsenal he had in his possession was lethal and, in the wrong hands, quite capable of causing incredibly serious harm.

"It's thanks to quick and decisive partnership working with out colleagues in the National Crime Agency, who alerted us to Nugent, that we've been able to bring him to justice here.

"These efforts were recognised by the judge who commended our investigating officer."

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Detective Sergeant Andy Henderson said: "This investigation demonstrates how we will seek to arrest and prosecute anyone concerned in the production of dangerous weapons.

"Following the conclusion of criminal proceedings the weapons will now be destroyed.

"It is sheer luck that Nugent himself managed to avoid serious injury during production; though some appear crude, it is a highly dangerous enterprise, and anyone concerned in similar activities should be well aware of the consequences."