Pair who smuggled ‘staggering’ number of guns to UK are jailed
TWO MEN in a gun-smuggling conspiracy thought to have brought a “staggering” number of weapons into the UK were handed lengthy prison sentences yesterday.
Steven Spires, 37, was sentenced to 26 years for conspiracy to import firearms while Denis Kolencukov, 26, was handed 19 years and two months for the same offence.
Michael Nicholls, 28, was also convicted for his role in the conspiracy but will be sentenced later as his barrister was currently self-isolating because of coronavirus, Kingston Crown Court was told.
Prosecutor Christopher Hewertson said the group carried out seven importations between January and July 2017.
On July 1 2017, Border Force officers swooped on a vehicle in France just before it entered the Channel Tunnel and seized 79
handguns and more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition stowed away in engine blocks on the van’s trailer.
Mr Hewertson said: “In the eye of the beholder, the beauty of the conspiracy was the simplicity.”
The court heard Kolencukov would buy revolvers, which was legal in his native Czech Republic, and have them transported via an unwitting courier.
The weapons and ammunition would be transported to Seaborough Industrial Estate in Slough, where Spires would manage their onward sale, the court heard.
The July haul alone is estimated to have been worth between £100,000 and £150,000.
Spires, of no fixed address, and Nicholls, from Slough, were found guilty of conspiracy to import firearms while Kolencukov admitted the charge before trial.
Kolencukov, also from Slough, further admitted conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life or enable another to endanger life and a similar charge of conspiracy to possess ammunition.
Spires and Nicholls were acquitted of the two additional charges but convicted of a possessing a prohibited weapon.