One of Nottinghamshire’s most notorious criminals sold 'assassination kits' which were made in a fellow gang member's garden, detectives have revealed. Four men were convicted over the operation, in which the kits were packed with a handgun, silencer, magazine and ammunition wrapped in latex gloves.
Gary Hardy, known for being one of the leading figures in organised crime in the city and wider county, organised and controlled their supply after they were created by Ronald Knowles in his garden in Milton Avenue, Alfreton. Knowles acquired blank firing handguns and ammunition, which he converted into viable firearms.
Hardy, of The Birches in Ravenshead, sent the packages to Steven Houston, of Breach Oak Lane, Corley, Warwickshire, who supplied the weapons to members of the criminal underworld, including known criminal Jason Hill. Officers raided Hill’s house where they found two handguns, two silencers and ammunition in a safe hidden in the garden.
In August 2023, police stopped a vehicle at Gallows Lane in Measham and recovered four weapons, each with a silencer and multiple rounds of ammunition. Detectives linked the firearms to both Hardy and Knowles, and descended on the latter's home while he set fire to evidence in his garden.
He dropped a bag containing an unconverted handgun, ammunition and a throwing star, while a search of a large outbuilding uncovered tools and machinery used to create the guns. A huge quantity of weaponry was also seized from inside Milton Avenue such as crossbows, knives, axes, machetes, swords and gas powered weapons.
Knowles and Hill both pleaded guilty to all offences before Hardy and Houston were found guilty after a trial at Nottingham Crown Court which concluded on May 23. They are due to be sentenced in the coming months.
Nottinghamshire Police said anyone now found in possession of a Turkish manufactured Top Venting Blank Firearm will face prosecution following a change to the law earlier this year.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Adas said: “What we are dealing with here are ruthless individuals that had a complete disregard for human life. They were creating, packaging, and distributing firearms that were designed to kill, there is no doubt about this.
“Each ‘Assassin's Kit’ was individually packaged containing a viable handgun, silencer, magazine and ammunition.
“Each handgun had been threaded to fit a silencer, which allowed the gun to be used discreetly at close quarters, meaning any potential targets would be lucky to escape with their lives. The rounds of ammunition were converted in such a way that upon impact they expanded, causing maximum damage to any target.
“The full impact of this investigation will never be seen – that’s because we are unable to count the number of lives we may have saved. If this operation had continued undetected, the strong likelihood is these weapons would have been used and people would have been killed or seriously harmed."
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.
Along with Colin Gunn and John Dawes, Hardy, now 61, was one of the most notorious and powerful leaders of organised crime in the city and county. He lived an expensive lifestyle which included an extensive property portfolio, sports cars and private education for his children.
Hardy was jailed for 20 years in 2008 after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply heroin and amphetamines, money laundering and possessing criminal property.
List of offenders
Gary Hardy, aged 61, of The Birches, Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire, was found guilty of:
- Conspired with others to sell or transfer a firearm.
- Conspired with others to have in your possession a firearm with intent by means thereof to endanger life or to enable another person by means thereof to endanger life.
- Conspired with others to convert into a firearm a thing, namely a blank firing firearm
Ronald Knowles, aged 64, of Milton Avenue, Alfreton, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to:
- Conspired with others to sell or transfer a firearm.
- Conspired with others to have in your possession a firearm with intent by means thereof to endanger life or to enable another person by means thereof to endanger life.
- Conspired with others to convert into a firearm a thing, namely a blank firing firearm
Steven Houston, aged 64, of Breach Oak Lane, Corley, Coventry, was found guilty of:
- Conspired with others to sell or transfer a firearm.
- Conspired with others to have in your possession a firearm with intent by means thereof to endanger life or to enable another person by means thereof to endanger life.
- Conspired with others to convert into a firearm a thing, namely a blank firing firearm
Jason Hill, aged 23, Derby Road, Risley, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to:
Possession a firearm with intent by means there
