Latest news with #Alfreton
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Moment armed police arrest man, 64, who made 'assassination kits' for gangsters from his back garden as he burns 'treasure trove' of evidence
This is the moment a 64-year-old weapons collector, who made 'assassination kits' for gangsters in his garden, began burning a 'treasure trove' of evidence as armed police descended on his property. Ronald Knowles curated 80 'assassination kits' in his home in Alfreton, Derbyshire, which included at least 33 firearms, converted from replica pistols, bullets, as well as silencers and latex gloves. He made the killing kits in a makeshift workshop, before handing them off to notorious 'drugs general' Gary Hardy, 61, who sold them from his Ravenshead home in Nottinghamshire. Now CCTV reveals the dramatic moment armed police swooped on his home as they caught him setting alight to a hoard of evidence as plumes of smoke billowed into the sky. Drone footage shows Knowles step out of the outbuilding, holding his hands into the air as armed officers made their way into his home, before they took him into custody and marched him away. The gun factory, producing the 'lethal' self loading pistols, was discovered as part of an investigation into Hardy by Nottinghamshire Police and the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU). During the raid, police found lathes and a drill used by the weapons collector to make the silencers and convert the pistols and ammunition, as well as throwing stars, machetes, crossbows and air weapons, and around 1,000 bullets. Knowles and Hardy were convicted of serious firearms offences at Nottingham Crown Court and are due to be sentenced at a later date. Police began to make arrests after stopping a van in Measham, Leicesteshire, in August 2023, where they seized a box containing four 'lethal' self-loading pistols. Each weapon had been individually packaged with a silencer, blue nitrile gloves and ten rounds of live ammunition. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Adas said: 'The bullets had been converted from blank firing to live. 'If discharged they would effectively expand on impact. These were lethal assassination kits. 'I call them that because they were individually packaged. The firearms were designed to kill. It is highly concerning. 'With the amount of ammunition that we found, that was in our belief destined for conversion, another 80 assassination kits could have been converted. 'It was a significant find for us. This is the largest firearms manufacturing operation that I have ever seen, and to my knowledge one of the biggest we've seen in the East Midlands, if not wider'. Police launched a probe into Hardy following his release from a 20-year prison sentence, which eventually unearthed that an operation he led had been supplying lethal weapons to organised crime groups in the West Midlands and Essex. Police say the assassination kits were also passed to career criminal Stephen Houston, 64, who sold them to underworld gangs. Police say one of the weapons was used by drug dealer Jason Hill, 23, to murder rival Owen Fairclough in June 2023. When police searched Hill's home they found a safe buried in the garden containing two guns with silencers and two dozen 9mm bullets. A court heard police believe Houston supplied him with the weapons which had been converted by Knowles. 'We will never know the true scale of how many lives have been saved as a result of us dismantling this operation, but it is significant'. In September 2008, Hardy gained notoriety when he was jailed for 20 years following in a major drugs trial that was guarded by armed police. That jury heard Hardy was one of three 'drugs generals' supplying heroin and amphetamines to dealers in Nottinghamshire. He had a fleet of luxury cars and owned more than 40 properties as part of a string of businesses. The court heard Hardy smuggled heroin into the UK in lorry tyres. The lucrative profits from selling the drugs were then split with John Dawes, and his brother and international drug trafficker Robert. Knowles, Hardy, Houston and Hill were convicted of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Knowles, Hardy and Houston will also be sentenced for conspiracy to convert a blank firing gun into a firearm, and conspiracy to sell or transfer a firearm.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Man made 'assassination kits' from his back garden
Detectives have revealed how they uncovered a makeshift factory that produced lethal "assassination kits" for organised crime groups. Armed police arrested Ronald Knowles as he tried to burn a "treasure trove" of evidence in his back garden in Alfreton, Derbyshire. The 64-year-old, who is now awaiting sentence, converted at least 33 replica pistols, and made enough bullets for a further 80 kits that were packaged with silencers and latex gloves. The kits were sold by a notorious "drugs general" called Gary Hardy, from his home in Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire. The makeshift factory was discovered as part of an investigation into Hardy by Nottinghamshire Police and the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU). Its details have now been released by the force after the conclusion of Hardy's trial. Det Ch Insp Mark Adas said officers moved in to make arrests after stopping a van in Measham, Leicestershire in August 2023. They seized a box containing four "lethal" self-loading pistols, each individually packaged with a silencer, blue nitrile gloves and ten rounds of live ammunition. "The bullets had been converted from blank firing to live. If discharged they would effectively expand on impact," he said. "These were lethal assassination kits. I call them that because they were individually packaged. The firearms were designed to kill. It is highly concerning." As armed officers moved into Knowles' garden on Milford Avenue, drone footage captured the moment he emerged from an outbuilding with his hands up before being handcuffed in front of his bonfire. Det Ch Insp Adas says that outbuilding contained lathes and a drill that the weapons collector used to make the silencers and convert the pistols and ammunition. Police also seized throwing stars, machetes, crossbows and air weapons, and almost 1,000 rounds. "With the amount of ammunition that we found, that was in our belief destined for conversion, another 80 assassination kits could have been converted," said Det Ch Insp Adas. "It was a significant find for us. This is the largest firearms manufacturing operation that I have ever seen, and to my knowledge one of the biggest we've seen in the East Midlands, if not wider". Knowles admitted serious firearms offences, and details can now be reported following the convictions of Hardy and two other men at Nottingham Crown Court. Det Ch Insp Adas says Hardy, 61, was "very very dangerous" and led an operation that supplied lethal weapons to organised crime groups in the West Midlands and Essex. "He was living in a nice address in Ravenshead, he had nice cars, he was leading a nice lifestyle but did not have any form of genuine employment to our knowledge," the detective said. "We will never know the true scale of how many lives have been saved as a result of us dismantling this operation, but it is significant". Gary Hardy first made headlines in September 2008 when he received a 20-year sentence in a major drugs trial at Nottingham Crown Court that had to be guarded by armed police. That jury heard Hardy was one of three "drugs generals" in Nottinghamshire, and supplied heroin and amphetamines to dealers in Kirkby-in-Ashfield and Sutton-in-Ashfield. He had a fleet of luxury cars and owned more than 40 properties as part of a string of businesses that made his earnings appear to be legitimate. The court heard Hardy's heroin supplies were smuggled into the UK in lorry tyres, and the profits were split with another Nottinghamshire "drugs general", John Dawes, and his brother, Robert. Robert Dawes was an international drug trafficker who was eventually arrested in Spain and has now been jailed in the Netherlands for ordering a hitman to kill an innocent teacher. Now Hardy is due to be sentenced again at a date yet to be set along with Ronald Knowles and two other men who were convicted of firearms offences at Nottingham Crown Court last month. One of those men is a 23-year-old drug dealer called Jason Hill. Hill is already serving a life sentence for the "brutal and cold-blooded" murder of Owen Fairclough, whose body was found in Breaston in June 2023. Six days after the discovery, officers searched Hill's back garden in Derby Road, Risley, and found a hidden safe containing two guns, two silencers and two dozen 9mm bullets. Nottinghamshire Police believe Hill obtained those weapons from Stephen Houston, 64, who lived in Corley, Warwickshire. They say Houston was supplying Hardy's assassination kits to members of the criminal underworld. Knowles, Hardy, Houston and Hill will all be sentenced for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Knowles, Hardy and Houston will also be sentenced for conspiracy to convert a blank firing gun into a firearm, and conspiracy to sell or transfer a firearm. Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Restrictions lifted for men convicted of murder Nottinghamshire Police
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Garden gun-maker manufactured assassination kits for crime groups
Detectives have revealed how they uncovered a makeshift factory that produced lethal "assassination kits" for organised crime police arrested Ronald Knowles as he tried to burn a "treasure trove" of evidence in his back garden in Alfreton, 64-year-old, who is now awaiting sentence, converted at least 33 replica pistols, and made enough bullets for a further 80 kits that were packaged with silencers and latex kits were sold by a notorious "drugs general" called Gary Hardy, from his home in Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire. The makeshift factory was discovered as part of an investigation into Hardy by Nottinghamshire Police and the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU).Its details have now been released by the force after the conclusion of Hardy's Ch Insp Mark Adas said officers moved in to make arrests after stopping a van in Measham, Leicestershire in August seized a box containing four "lethal" self-loading pistols, each individually packaged with a silencer, blue nitrile gloves and ten rounds of live ammunition."The bullets had been converted from blank firing to live. If discharged they would effectively expand on impact," he said."These were lethal assassination kits. I call them that because they were individually packaged. The firearms were designed to kill. It is highly concerning." As armed officers moved into Knowles' garden on Milford Avenue, drone footage captured the moment he emerged from an outbuilding with his hands up before being handcuffed in front of his bonfire. Det Ch Insp Adas says that outbuilding contained lathes and a drill that the weapons collector used to make the silencers and convert the pistols and ammunition. Police also seized throwing stars, machetes, crossbows and air weapons, and almost 1,000 rounds."With the amount of ammunition that we found, that was in our belief destined for conversion, another 80 assassination kits could have been converted," said Det Ch Insp Adas."It was a significant find for us. This is the largest firearms manufacturing operation that I have ever seen, and to my knowledge one of the biggest we've seen in the East Midlands, if not wider". Knowles admitted serious firearms offences, and details can now be reported following the convictions of Hardy and two other men at Nottingham Crown Ch Insp Adas says Hardy, 61, was "very very dangerous" and led an operation that supplied lethal weapons to organised crime groups in the West Midlands and Essex."He was living in a nice address in Ravenshead, he had nice cars, he was leading a nice lifestyle but did not have any form of genuine employment to our knowledge," the detective said."We will never know the true scale of how many lives have been saved as a result of us dismantling this operation, but it is significant". Gary Hardy first made headlines in September 2008 when he received a 20-year sentence in a major drugs trial at Nottingham Crown Court that had to be guarded by armed jury heard Hardy was one of three "drugs generals" in Nottinghamshire, and supplied heroin and amphetamines to dealers in Kirkby-in-Ashfield and had a fleet of luxury cars and owned more than 40 properties as part of a string of businesses that made his earnings appear to be legitimate. The court heard Hardy's heroin supplies were smuggled into the UK in lorry tyres, and the profits were split with another Nottinghamshire "drugs general", John Dawes, and his brother, Dawes was an international drug trafficker who was eventually arrested in Spain and has now been jailed in the Netherlands for ordering a hitman to kill an innocent teacher. Now Hardy is due to be sentenced again at a date yet to be set along with Ronald Knowles and two other men who were convicted of firearms offences at Nottingham Crown Court last of those men is a 23-year-old drug dealer called Jason Hill. Hill is already serving a life sentence for the "brutal and cold-blooded" murder of Owen Fairclough, whose body was found in Breaston in June days after the discovery, officers searched Hill's back garden in Derby Road, Risley, and found a hidden safe containing two guns, two silencers and two dozen 9mm bullets. Nottinghamshire Police believe Hill obtained those weapons from Stephen Houston, 64, who lived in Corley, say Houston was supplying Hardy's assassination kits to members of the criminal Hardy, Houston and Hill will all be sentenced for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger Hardy and Houston will also be sentenced for conspiracy to convert a blank firing gun into a firearm, and conspiracy to sell or transfer a firearm.
BBC News
10-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Council agree sale of former Polygon youth centre building
A campaign group says it has lost out in its bid to buy a former youth centre in Alfreton and return it to the County Council confirmed that the Polygon Centre has been sold to an unnamed charity as part of the authority's recent cost-cutting £80,000 bid submitted by music teacher Joe Peall, who set up the campaign group Polygon Centre CIC, was rejected by the a social media post, the Polygon Centre CIC shared the "disappointing" news the council had accepted an alternative offer. A council spokesperson said: "A sale has been agreed to a registered charity, which is keen to engage with community groups in Alfreton for the benefit of residents."At this stage we are unable to provide details of the purchaser or give an indication of the purchase price." Mr Peall, who is originally from Bedfordshire but moved to Alfreton two-and-a-half years ago, said he first came across the centre on a walk and was soon told about the history of the he spotted it had gone up for auction, he decided to raise his £80,000 sum, through investment and crowdfunding, to try and buy it and return it to use as a community Polygon Centre CIC believed the centre had "so much potential"."It's heritage, design, space and location all made it incredibly special and we were so excited to see what we could do with it", the group said."There were some great ideas about what groups and services they would have liked to see and we had some amazing letters of support and expressions of interest from local businesses and organisations."The upcoming owners of the Polygon are in a privileged position and we offer them our sincere best wishes."The campaign group said that Mr Peall has now begun the process of refunding all the donations that were made through their Go Fund Me campaign. While the sale is still in "very early stages", the council is confident the purchase will be completed in the next few months.
