Three men have been sentenced to 30 years behind bars for conspiracy to convert and supply firearms.

Vincent Joyce, aged 40 of Rawtenstall, Lancashire was sentenced to 14 years today at Preston Crown Court after pleading guilty to 19 offences on 21st of February 2020.

Stephen Flatley, aged 54 of Waterford, Rossendale also pleaded guilty to 10 offences for which he was sentenced to 11 years, six months.

Following a trial, Paul Macdonald, aged 39, of Kirkstall Rd, Middleton was found guilty of drugs and firearms offences for which he was sentenced to four years and six months behind bars. 

The investigation began after officers from the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) made an arrest in Sheffield on 6th April 2019 during which a number of firearms, linked to Joyce and Flatley were recovered.

On 15th May 2019, Joyce was arrested his home address following a warrant carried out by officers from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU), Yorkshire & Humber ROCU, South Yorkshire Police and supported by Lancashire Police. 

Police carried out further warrants on two further addresses including a garage on Burnley Road and Barritt Road in Rawtenstall and recovered nine firearms, ammunition, £15,000 of cash and Class C drugs with a street value of over £8,000.

Flatley was arrested on 1st August 2019 at his home address as a result of forensic evidence, uncovered by a National Crime Agency-led project, linking him to the weapons seized.

Following further investigations, Macdonald was arrested on the 23rd October 2019 at his home address after police discovered evidence linking him to the offences.

Detective Inspector Dave Turner from NWROCU said: “Joyce, Flatley and Macdonald worked together to supply dangerous and illegal firearms to other criminals. Weapons like the ones we’ve seized have the potential to cause serious harm to communities so we’re delighted with today’s sentence which sends out a strong message that those involved in the manufacture of firearms can expect no leniency from the courts.

“We take the threat from illegally held firearms extremely seriously and work hard with all our law enforcement partners to target those posing the greatest threats to our communities.

Matthew Perfect, Firearms Threat Lead at the NCA, said: “The NCA works closely with other law enforcement agencies to better understand the flow of firearms to the criminal marketplace. We use that intelligence to suppress the availability of illegal firearms and preventing them falling into the hands of UK criminals.

“The NCA supported the NWROCU by providing enhanced forensic capability and securing evidence against Flatley which ultimately assisted in his conviction for the additional firearms offences.”

Vincent Joyce was charged with:

*       Conspiracy to convert firearms (1 count)
*       Possessing a prohibited firearm (5 counts)
*       Possessing a firearm without a firearm certificate (8 counts)
*       Possessing ammunition without a firearms certificate (4 counts)
*       Possessing a controlled drug of Class C with intent to supply

Stephen Flatley was charged with:

*       Conspiracy to convert firearms (1 count)
*       Possessing a prohibited firearm (3 counts)
*       Possessing a firearm without a firearm certificate (3 counts)
*       Possessing ammunition without a firearms certificate (3 counts)

Paul Macdonald was charged with:

*       conspiracy to convert weapons (1 count)
*       conspiracy to possess converted firearms (1 count)