Gun expert guilty of weapons charges

Richard Ashley is still waiting for a verdict on the fifth charge

A firearms expert who lectured to soldiers and worked for two police forces has been convicted of possessing weapons illegally.

Richard Ashley, 57, of Pakenham, Suffolk, denied five charges of possessing prohibited weapons without the permission of the Home Office.

After a two-month trial at Ipswich Crown Court a jury found him guilty of three charges and not guilty on a fourth charge on Wednesday.

Jurors, who began considering their verdicts on Tuesday, are continuing to deliberate on the fifth charge.

Police armourer

Ashley was employed as an armourer by Norfolk and Suffolk Police and also worked as a gun dealer and lecturer.

The prosecution said Ashley kept weapons he was not licensed to hold - including rocket and grenade launchers - and had more firearms than his licences permitted.

Ashley was arrested in February 2001 following a raid at his home.

His defence lawyer Martyn Levett said the police had targeted Ashley after failing to secure a conviction of another firearms dealer from the Cambridge area.

Ashley also claimed some of the weapons were antiques.