Latest news with #ZoeWatts
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Ex-PCSO Zoe Watts found guilty of using 3D printer to make gun
A former police community support officer (PCSO) with an "obsession" for weapons has been found guilty of trying to make a gun using a 3D Watts, 38, of St Helen's Avenue, Lincoln, was found with parts for a semi automatic weapon, a machete, bladed article, crossbow and bow during a raid on her home on 11 her trial at Lincoln Crown Court, Watts claimed she was making a "fidget" toy gun as a Christmas is believed to be the first person in the UK to be convicted of attempting to manufacture a prohibited gun using a printer. She will be sentence on 8 August. Lincoln Crown Court heard the 3D printer was found in a cupboard during a search of her home along with many of the parts needed to make a firearms experts tried to put the weapon together it did not work but the prosecution said it would be a "lethal" prohibited weapon if manufactured days before the raid on her home, Ms Watts had also searched the internet for "Has anybody been killed by a 3D printed gun?" and read about a man who had been shot dead in New York. Watts was previously jailed in 2021 after she was found with banned weapons and explosive substances and had also made an improvised explosive Simon Hirst remanded Watts back into custody."Given the previous convictions that Miss Watts has I would like a report on the issue of dangerousness," Judge Hirst explained."You know a sentence of custody awaits. I will decide on 8 August how long that will be." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Telegraph
Former PCSO tried to build a gun using 3D printer
A former police community support officer with an 'obsession' for weapons tried to build a gun using a 3D printer. Zoe Watts, 38, was found with an 'arsenal' at her Lincoln home, with items including parts to make a semi automatic weapon, a machete and a crossbow. Watts, who previously served as a PCSO with Lincolnshire Police, was arrested during an armed operation on Dec 11. It came less than four years after she was previously jailed for possessing illegal weapons and manufacturing explosives in 2021. The latest charge related to Watts trying to make an FGC MK II Nutty semi automatic weapon, jurors at Lincoln Crown Court heard. Christopher Poole, a ballistics expert for the prosecution, said: 'It was the first in the UK seen of this variant.' Giving evidence, Mr Poole said 3D printed guns had become an emerging trend where individuals were circumventing firearms laws. He confirmed videos of similar weapons being discharged were readily available on YouTube, while jurors were shown footage of a similar weapon being discharged at a metal target in America. Jonathan Dee, prosecuting, explained the initials of the FGC MK II stood for 'F--- gun control'. When firearms experts tried to put the weapon together, it did not work, but Mr Dee insisted it would have become a 'lethal' prohibited weapon if made correctly. The 3D printer was found in a cupboard during a search of Watts' home along with many of the parts needed to make the FGC MK II Nutty, including a 'very short' steel barrel. Other items including a machete, bladed article, crossbow and bow were recovered from Watts' home. 'The defendant had an arsenal, we say this was part of it,' Mr Dee told the jury. Two days before the search, Mr Dee said Watts had put a search into Google asking: 'Has anybody been killed by a 3D printed gun?' And a day later, a search was made for the death of Brian Thompson, the chief executive of United Healthcare, who was fatally shot outside a hotel in New York, Mr Dee said. During her trial, Watts claimed she was actually making a 'fidget' toy gun as a Christmas present. Watts told the jury she had previously run a YouTube channel dedicated to 'survivalism' and bushcraft. But a jury at Lincoln Crown Court convicted her of the offence after a five-day trial. Judge Simon Hirst adjourned sentence until Aug 8 and remanded Watts back into custody. Watts was previously jailed for 27 months in July 2021 after she 'hoarded' banned weapons and explosive substances and also made an improvised explosive device. Police also found a stun gun, butterfly knives and an illegal electric fly-swatter during a raid in October 2020. On that occasion Watts had made an explosive device out of a modified shotgun cartridge.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Woman who tried to build a semi-automatic weapon using a printer searched Google to ask: 'Has anybody been killed by a 3D printed gun?', court hears
A woman used a 3D printer to try and make a semi-automatic weapon which could have been converted into a submachine gun if correctly manufactured, a court was told. Zoe Watts, 38, was arrested after police found an 'arsenal' of weapons during a search of her home in St Helen's Avenue, Lincoln, it is alleged. Prosecutors claim Watts, who has previous convictions for possessing illegal weapons and manufacturing explosives, had attempted to make a lethal weapon to 'sneak past law enforcement' Jonathon Dee, prosecuting, told jurors the initials of the 'semi-automatic' FGC MK II Nutty weapon attempted to be made by Watts stood for the words 'F**k gun control.' 'It is a semi-automatic weapon capable of being converted into a submachine gun,' Mr Dee explained. An internet search which the prosecution allege Watts made two days before the police search asked: 'Has anybody been killed by a 3D printed gun?' Jurors heard police recovered a 3D printer from a cupboard in Watts' home during a search on 12 December. Mr Dee said the case concerned 'new technology' and explained 3D printers can be used 'for good' to manufacture items such as prosthetics. But Mr Dee added: 'It also has the capability to be used to manufacture weapons.' When police tried to assemble all the parts recovered from Watts' home they were unable to make the weapon work due to a fault in the manufacturing process, the court was told. But Mr Dee alleged: 'If this item had been made correctly it would have been a prohibited firearm.' There was no issue it was Watts who was responsible for making the item, Mr Dee told the jury. 'The only issue is why?,' Mr Dee explained. 'The Crown say she was trying to make a weapon, a lethal weapon. 'She says she was trying to make a toy.' Mr Dee alleged it was clear Ms Watts had done 'a lot of work.' As well as the 3D printer, metal parts including screws, bolts and a 'very short barrel' were recovered, Mr Dee claimed. Mr Dee told jurors most of the searches about the weapon occurred around the 28 and 29 November, and said there were a number of reasons why it was being made as a weapon rather than a toy. 'Perhaps most obviously it is what this item is designed to be,' Mr Dee claimed. 'FGC stands for F**k gun control. This is specifically designed as a way of getting round gun control.' There was also the 'sheer cost and effort' Watts had gone to in gathering all the various parts, Mr Dee insisted. Mr Dee added: 'The question will be posed why does a toy gun need a steel barrel when you can print a plastic one?' The jury heard other items including a machete, crossbow, bladed article and bow were recovered from Watts' home. 'The defendant had an arsenal, we say this was part of it,' Mr Dee alleged. Mr Dee said Watts had also made internet searches relating to samurai swords, knives and guns. On December 10, Mr Dee alleged, Watts put a search into Google asking: 'Has anybody been killed by a 3D printed gun?' And the following day, a search was made for the death of Brian Thompson, the CEO of United Healthcare, who had recently been fatally shot outside a hotel in New York, Mr Dee told the jury. Watts made no comment on her arrest only to say she had no idea why, jurors heard. But Mr Dee explained it was not the first time Watts had appeared before Lincoln Crown Court. 'In 2021 she had convictions for possessing illegal weapons and manufacturing explosives for an illegal purpose,' Mr Dee told jurors. Mr Dee concluded by telling the jury it was the prosecution case 'this was a lethal weapon, you can make on your own, and sneak past law enforcement.' Jurors at Lincoln Crown Court (above) were told Watts had an 'arsenal' of weapons at her home including a machete and a crossbow Prosecution ballistics expert Christopher Poole told the jury he first became aware of 3D printed guns in 2020 and it had become an emerging trend where individuals were circumventing firearms laws. Mr Poole told jurors today the Nutty 9 recovered in this investigation was 'the first in the UK seen of this variant.' Mr Poole said he added various missing parts from the Nutty 9 guide to try and assemble the seized weapon but it would not fire because of various sizing issues. Watts, of Lincoln, denies a single charge of attempting to manufacture a prohibited firearm between 1 January 2024 and 11 December 2024. The charge specifies that Watts attempted to manufacture a FGC MK II Nutty sub machine gun that was prohibited by Section 5 (I) of the Firearms Act 1968. It is alleged the firearm would be capable of discharging two or more missiles successively without repeated pressure on the trigger and had a barrel of less than 30cms in the length. The trial continues.
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
Lincoln woman Zoe Watts accused of trying to make gun on 3D printer
A woman used a 3D printer to try to make a submachine gun, a court has been Watts, 38, was arrested after police found several weapons during a search of her home in St Helen's Avenue, Lincoln, it is denies a single charge of attempting to manufacture a prohibited firearm between 1 January and 11 December in the trial at Lincoln Crown Court claim Ms Watts had attempted to make the weapon to "sneak past law enforcement". The charge against Ms Watts relates to her attempting to manufacture a FGC MK II Nutty submachine gun that was prohibited by Section 5 (I) of the Firearms Act Dee, prosecuting, told jurors the initials of the weapon attempted to be made by Ms Watts stood for the words "F**k gun control".He said: "It is a semi-automatic weapon capable of being converted into a submachine gun." Internet searches Jurors heard police recovered a 3D printer from a cupboard in Ms Watts's home during a search on 12 items recovered included a machete, crossbow, bladed article and bow and metal parts including screws, bolts and a "very short barrel", the court was internet search, which the prosecution allege was made two days before the police search, asked: "Has anybody been killed by a 3D printed gun?"Mr Dee said searches made also related to samurai swords, knives and court was told that the weapon was unable to work due to a fault in the manufacturing process when police tried to assemble the parts."The crown say she was trying to make a weapon, a lethal weapon," Mr Dee added."She says she was trying to make a toy."He concluded to the jury that "this was a lethal weapon, you can make on your own and sneak past law enforcement".The trial continues. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
