A Broadstairs man found guilty of supplying a firearm with ammunition has been jailed.
Dion Williams, 34, of Rosemary Gardens, was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment at Maidstone Crown Court today (May 10).
Williams was found guilty of the following offences at the same court yesterday, following a two-week trial.
Conspiracy to transfer a prohibited weapon (Colt .455 self-loading pistol);
Conspiracy to transfer prohibited ammunition (49 .455 compatible rounds of ammunition).
William’s conviction comes as the result of an intelligence-led operation carried out by the Met’s Trident and Area Crime Command.
The court heard how on February 19, 2017, Trident officers conducted surveillance in Ramsgate which resulted in armed officers from Kent Police stopping two vehicles on the M2 at Maidstone travelling back to London.
This resulted in the recovery of a Colt self-loading pistol along with 49 compatible rounds of ammunition. Through forensic analysis, Williams was identified as being wanted in connection with this investigation but had fled the UK.
On September 5, 2018 Williams was arrested in Kent shortly after returning to the UK. He was charged with the firearms offences the following day. He later appeared in Maidstone Crown Court having pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Following the two-week trial Williams was sentenced to a maximum possible tariff of ten years imprisonment having been found guilty of both charges. Upon sentence the court heard how in 2008 Williams was part of an organised criminal network who conducted a gun escape from custody of a male from Barking Magistrates as well as an armed robbery which took place two weeks later in Dorset. He was convicted for these crimes and was still on licence when he committed the latest offences.
Williams will begin his current ten-year sentence at the conclusion of his licence period in August 2020.
HHJ Williams referred to Williams as a, “professional criminal” who is “ruthless and a highly manipulative man.”
Detective Inspector Glenn Butler, of the Metropolitan Police Trident Command, said:
“This was a complex investigation that was driven by a wealth of intelligence secured by Trident officers. It resulted in the organised criminals involved in the illegal supply and possession of firearms and ammunition being targeted. The firearm and ammunition recovered in this case were undoubtedly destined for the streets of London and thanks to the work of the team, they have now been removed.”
Three other men were jailed for a total of 27 years at Maidstone Crown Court in January 2018 after being arrested during the original phase of the operation.