Latest news with #HMPNottingham
Rhyl Journal
16-05-2025
- Rhyl Journal
Former police officer who amassed ‘treasure trove' of weapons jailed
Andrew Campbell, 42, had amassed a collection of potentially deadly modified firearms, as well as crossbows, knives, batons and knuckle dusters, Nottingham Crown Court heard on Thursday. The former officer, who was dismissed from Nottinghamshire Police in April 2017 for gross misconduct, was jailed for five years and 10 months for possession of an air rifle and a sound moderator without a certificate and two counts of possessing a prohibited weapon, in relation to CO2 powered revolvers, by Judge Nirmal Shant KC. Campbell's home in Nottingham Road, Toton, and a storage unit connected to him were searched in January, and a 'treasure trove' of weapons were discovered, prosecutor Anwar Nashashibi told the court. These included 11 air rifles, one of which was found in his storage unit, and CO2 powered and imitation firearms, some of which had been modified to increase their power. Mr Nashashibi said the search also turned up a baton in the living room, whips and other contact weapons in the dining room and a metal cosh on the stairs, as well as a box of batons and sticks and a box of catapults in his bedroom. He also had collected, in boxes on an open shelf, metal and pointed missiles and darts, while arrows and a knuckle duster were also found in the property. Two crossbows were found hidden in a wardrobe, with Mr Nashashibi clarifying that while they were not illegal to keep in the property, they would be if they were taken outside and were 'obviously highly dangerous'. He said: 'In short, this was a large number of weapons in boxes, in cupboards, and simply laying all around the house. 'The weapons look like real guns and aren't marketed as paintball guns, they were marketed for training and self-defence use. 'The weapons used with pointed projectiles would have lethal capacity and could have been highly dangerous.' He said Campbell's interest in the weapons was 'their capacity to injure, not paintballing'. After his arrest, Campbell told police he used the air rifles to shoot rats and as target practice in his garden and that he never took them out of the property. But Mr Nashashibi said messages Campbell had sent to others indicated threats to use them against intruders, and also suggested he had 'extreme' far right views, including references to using the weapons, which he had heavily modified, on Muslims and pro-Palestine supporters. A search of his devices also uncovered videos he had sent in September 2023 of him testing weapons by firing them into a bucket of towels and boasting that the pellet went through two layers of folded cloth. There was also evidence of Campbell, who has a diagnosis of autism, dismantling guns and testing them post-modification and making videos explaining the process, as well as a photo of him wearing a gun in a holster. Defending Campbell, who appeared for sentencing via video link from HMP Nottingham, where he sat in a room writing in a notepad and wearing a beaded necklace with a cross on it, barrister Jonathan Duffy said he had a 'fascination' with the weapons. He said Campbell owned a collection of many different types of firearms and had written and published books about them. Mr Duffy said: 'He possessed a lot weapons, they were held as part of a wider collection and weren't held with any criminal intention.' Two other counts on the indictment faced by Campbell, of collection of information contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000, were ordered to lie on file. Judge Shant said she had put those counts 'completely out of my mind' as she sentenced Campbell. She said that he had been 'reckless' by storing the dangerous weapons in 'insecure' locations inside his home. She said: 'This isn't a case where there was minimal risk of death or harm or a distress caused. The weapons looked real and are frightening.' Of his extreme views, Judge Shant said: 'This is a case where what you say makes for disturbing reading, but you cannot and will not be punished for your views. 'You are someone of good character, it is clear you should have and did know that possessing these weapons with the power you added to it was highly illegal.'
North Wales Chronicle
15-05-2025
- North Wales Chronicle
Former police officer who amassed ‘treasure trove' of weapons jailed
Andrew Campbell, 42, had amassed a collection of potentially deadly modified firearms, as well as crossbows, knives, batons and knuckle dusters, Nottingham Crown Court heard on Thursday. The former officer, who was dismissed from Nottinghamshire Police in April 2017 for gross misconduct, was jailed for five years and 10 months for possession of an air rifle and a sound moderator without a certificate and two counts of possessing a prohibited weapon, in relation to CO2 powered revolvers, by Judge Nirmal Shant KC. Campbell's home in Nottingham Road, Toton, and a storage unit connected to him were searched in January, and a 'treasure trove' of weapons were discovered, prosecutor Anwar Nashashibi told the court. These included 11 air rifles, one of which was found in his storage unit, and CO2 powered and imitation firearms, some of which had been modified to increase their power. Mr Nashashibi said the search also turned up a baton in the living room, whips and other contact weapons in the dining room and a metal cosh on the stairs, as well as a box of batons and sticks and a box of catapults in his bedroom. He also had collected, in boxes on an open shelf, metal and pointed missiles and darts, while arrows and a knuckle duster were also found in the property. Two crossbows were found hidden in a wardrobe, with Mr Nashashibi clarifying that while they were not illegal to keep in the property, they would be if they were taken outside and were 'obviously highly dangerous'. He said: 'In short, this was a large number of weapons in boxes, in cupboards, and simply laying all around the house. 'The weapons look like real guns and aren't marketed as paintball guns, they were marketed for training and self-defence use. 'The weapons used with pointed projectiles would have lethal capacity and could have been highly dangerous.' He said Campbell's interest in the weapons was 'their capacity to injure, not paintballing'. After his arrest, Campbell told police he used the air rifles to shoot rats and as target practice in his garden and that he never took them out of the property. But Mr Nashashibi said messages Campbell had sent to others indicated threats to use them against intruders, and also suggested he had 'extreme' far right views, including references to using the weapons, which he had heavily modified, on Muslims and pro-Palestine supporters. A search of his devices also uncovered videos he had sent in September 2023 of him testing weapons by firing them into a bucket of towels and boasting that the pellet went through two layers of folded cloth. There was also evidence of Campbell, who has a diagnosis of autism, dismantling guns and testing them post-modification and making videos explaining the process, as well as a photo of him wearing a gun in a holster. Defending Campbell, who appeared for sentencing via video link from HMP Nottingham, where he sat in a room writing in a notepad and wearing a beaded necklace with a cross on it, barrister Jonathan Duffy said he had a 'fascination' with the weapons. He said Campbell owned a collection of many different types of firearms and had written and published books about them. Mr Duffy said: 'He possessed a lot weapons, they were held as part of a wider collection and weren't held with any criminal intention.' Two other counts on the indictment faced by Campbell, of collection of information contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000, were ordered to lie on file. Judge Shant said she had put those counts 'completely out of my mind' as she sentenced Campbell. She said that he had been 'reckless' by storing the dangerous weapons in 'insecure' locations inside his home. She said: 'This isn't a case where there was minimal risk of death or harm or a distress caused. The weapons looked real and are frightening.' Of his extreme views, Judge Shant said: 'This is a case where what you say makes for disturbing reading, but you cannot and will not be punished for your views. 'You are someone of good character, it is clear you should have and did know that possessing these weapons with the power you added to it was highly illegal.'
Leader Live
15-05-2025
- Leader Live
Former police officer who amassed ‘treasure trove' of weapons jailed
Andrew Campbell, 42, had amassed a collection of potentially deadly modified firearms, as well as crossbows, knives, batons and knuckle dusters, Nottingham Crown Court heard on Thursday. The former officer, who was dismissed from Nottinghamshire Police in April 2017 for gross misconduct, was jailed for five years and 10 months for possession of an air rifle and a sound moderator without a certificate and two counts of possessing a prohibited weapon, in relation to CO2 powered revolvers, by Judge Nirmal Shant KC. Campbell's home in Nottingham Road, Toton, and a storage unit connected to him were searched in January, and a 'treasure trove' of weapons were discovered, prosecutor Anwar Nashashibi told the court. These included 11 air rifles, one of which was found in his storage unit, and CO2 powered and imitation firearms, some of which had been modified to increase their power. Mr Nashashibi said the search also turned up a baton in the living room, whips and other contact weapons in the dining room and a metal cosh on the stairs, as well as a box of batons and sticks and a box of catapults in his bedroom. He also had collected, in boxes on an open shelf, metal and pointed missiles and darts, while arrows and a knuckle duster were also found in the property. Two crossbows were found hidden in a wardrobe, with Mr Nashashibi clarifying that while they were not illegal to keep in the property, they would be if they were taken outside and were 'obviously highly dangerous'. He said: 'In short, this was a large number of weapons in boxes, in cupboards, and simply laying all around the house. 'The weapons look like real guns and aren't marketed as paintball guns, they were marketed for training and self-defence use. 'The weapons used with pointed projectiles would have lethal capacity and could have been highly dangerous.' He said Campbell's interest in the weapons was 'their capacity to injure, not paintballing'. After his arrest, Campbell told police he used the air rifles to shoot rats and as target practice in his garden and that he never took them out of the property. But Mr Nashashibi said messages Campbell had sent to others indicated threats to use them against intruders, and also suggested he had 'extreme' far right views, including references to using the weapons, which he had heavily modified, on Muslims and pro-Palestine supporters. A search of his devices also uncovered videos he had sent in September 2023 of him testing weapons by firing them into a bucket of towels and boasting that the pellet went through two layers of folded cloth. There was also evidence of Campbell, who has a diagnosis of autism, dismantling guns and testing them post-modification and making videos explaining the process, as well as a photo of him wearing a gun in a holster. Defending Campbell, who appeared for sentencing via video link from HMP Nottingham, where he sat in a room writing in a notepad and wearing a beaded necklace with a cross on it, barrister Jonathan Duffy said he had a 'fascination' with the weapons. He said Campbell owned a collection of many different types of firearms and had written and published books about them. Mr Duffy said: 'He possessed a lot weapons, they were held as part of a wider collection and weren't held with any criminal intention.' Two other counts on the indictment faced by Campbell, of collection of information contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000, were ordered to lie on file. Judge Shant said she had put those counts 'completely out of my mind' as she sentenced Campbell. She said that he had been 'reckless' by storing the dangerous weapons in 'insecure' locations inside his home. She said: 'This isn't a case where there was minimal risk of death or harm or a distress caused. The weapons looked real and are frightening.' Of his extreme views, Judge Shant said: 'This is a case where what you say makes for disturbing reading, but you cannot and will not be punished for your views. 'You are someone of good character, it is clear you should have and did know that possessing these weapons with the power you added to it was highly illegal.'
South Wales Guardian
15-05-2025
- South Wales Guardian
Former police officer who amassed ‘treasure trove' of weapons jailed
Andrew Campbell, 42, had amassed a collection of potentially deadly modified firearms, as well as crossbows, knives, batons and knuckle dusters, Nottingham Crown Court heard on Thursday. The former officer, who was dismissed from Nottinghamshire Police in April 2017 for gross misconduct, was jailed for five years and 10 months for possession of an air rifle and a sound moderator without a certificate and two counts of possessing a prohibited weapon, in relation to CO2 powered revolvers, by Judge Nirmal Shant KC. Campbell's home in Nottingham Road, Toton, and a storage unit connected to him were searched in January, and a 'treasure trove' of weapons were discovered, prosecutor Anwar Nashashibi told the court. These included 11 air rifles, one of which was found in his storage unit, and CO2 powered and imitation firearms, some of which had been modified to increase their power. Mr Nashashibi said the search also turned up a baton in the living room, whips and other contact weapons in the dining room and a metal cosh on the stairs, as well as a box of batons and sticks and a box of catapults in his bedroom. He also had collected, in boxes on an open shelf, metal and pointed missiles and darts, while arrows and a knuckle duster were also found in the property. Two crossbows were found hidden in a wardrobe, with Mr Nashashibi clarifying that while they were not illegal to keep in the property, they would be if they were taken outside and were 'obviously highly dangerous'. He said: 'In short, this was a large number of weapons in boxes, in cupboards, and simply laying all around the house. 'The weapons look like real guns and aren't marketed as paintball guns, they were marketed for training and self-defence use. 'The weapons used with pointed projectiles would have lethal capacity and could have been highly dangerous.' He said Campbell's interest in the weapons was 'their capacity to injure, not paintballing'. After his arrest, Campbell told police he used the air rifles to shoot rats and as target practice in his garden and that he never took them out of the property. But Mr Nashashibi said messages Campbell had sent to others indicated threats to use them against intruders, and also suggested he had 'extreme' far right views, including references to using the weapons, which he had heavily modified, on Muslims and pro-Palestine supporters. A search of his devices also uncovered videos he had sent in September 2023 of him testing weapons by firing them into a bucket of towels and boasting that the pellet went through two layers of folded cloth. There was also evidence of Campbell, who has a diagnosis of autism, dismantling guns and testing them post-modification and making videos explaining the process, as well as a photo of him wearing a gun in a holster. Defending Campbell, who appeared for sentencing via video link from HMP Nottingham, where he sat in a room writing in a notepad and wearing a beaded necklace with a cross on it, barrister Jonathan Duffy said he had a 'fascination' with the weapons. He said Campbell owned a collection of many different types of firearms and had written and published books about them. Mr Duffy said: 'He possessed a lot weapons, they were held as part of a wider collection and weren't held with any criminal intention.' Two other counts on the indictment faced by Campbell, of collection of information contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000, were ordered to lie on file. Judge Shant said she had put those counts 'completely out of my mind' as she sentenced Campbell. She said that he had been 'reckless' by storing the dangerous weapons in 'insecure' locations inside his home. She said: 'This isn't a case where there was minimal risk of death or harm or a distress caused. The weapons looked real and are frightening.' Of his extreme views, Judge Shant said: 'This is a case where what you say makes for disturbing reading, but you cannot and will not be punished for your views. 'You are someone of good character, it is clear you should have and did know that possessing these weapons with the power you added to it was highly illegal.'
Metro
08-05-2025
- Metro
Prisoner jailed for life for beating fellow inmate to death in shower block
A prisoner awaiting trial for attempted murder has been jailed for life after beating a fellow inmate to death in prison. Andrew Thorpe brutally attacked Jonathon Thornton at HMP Nottingham last June 28 while on remand for stabbing another man weeks before. Thornton suffered a catastrophic brain injury and he died in hospital two weeks later. Nottingham crown court was told Thorpe, 38, launched the attack on Thornton because he made a racist remark about 'not liking black men'. Thorpe denied both attempted murder and murder in relation to the separate attacks but was found guilty of both charges. He had also previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a Class A drug after police found cocaine during the investigation. Today he was given a life sentence and ordered to serve a minimum term of 35 years before he can be considered for parole. At the time of his attack against Thornton, Thorpe was awaiting trial for trying to kill Declan Hales in Edwalton, Nottinghamshire, last May 29. Hales invited Thorpe to his home to buy drugs, but instead Thorpe stabbed him multiple times while wearing a ski mask. During sentencing, Judge Nirmal Shant KC said: 'You deliberately set up a fake drugs deal. 'Having set up the trap, you armed yourself with a knife and put on a ski mask to hide yourself from detection. 'You took a taxi to his home and when he opened the door to you, you set about him with a knife. 'On the evidence, I am sure that had he not run into a neighbour's house and picked up a knife himself, you would have killed him. 'Whilst in custody, you took offence after being told Mr Thornton had made racist comments. 'You decided to teach him a lesson and to demonstrate to others that you were not someone to be messed with.' Nottinghamshire Police said the attack against Hales 'could have resulted in a murder investigation' had it not been for the quick response of emergency services. Detective Constable Emily Whiteside said: 'The nature of the Edwalton attack was horrendous with the victim being stabbed multiple times including to his back as he attempted to flee. 'As it was, the victim thankfully survived but a murder inquiry was sadly necessary just a few weeks later after Thorpe beat a fellow prison inmate to death. 'This, too, was a horrendous attack and our thoughts are with Thornton's family as they continue to come to terms with his sudden loss. 'We are pleased Thorpe will now be locked up for many years. He is a very dangerous man and Nottinghamshire is a safer place with him behind bars.' Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check our news page. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. MORE: Student 'ate uni worker's body parts after chopping her head off' MORE: German police begs UK detectives for help before Madeleine McCann suspect walks free MORE: First picture of grandad who died after 'stag do fight' on board cruise ship
