Man jailed after raid unearths weapons armoury in Kingsclere

A MAN caught with an illegal armoury of firearms has been jailed for more than five years.

He was caught following an operation by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

The haul included four Glock pistols, nine shotguns, six long-barrelled firearms and a deactivated Bren machine gun along with a range of gun component parts and ammunition.

Officers also recovered 11 imitation firearms; an AK-47, an MP 40 submachine gun and nine revolvers.

In the dock for sentencing at Reading Crown Court on Wednesday, June 4, was 58-year-old Philip John Maylen, of Penny’s Hatch, Kingsclere.

Sophie Stannard, prosecuting, said the NCA had been alerted by UK border force officers who had intercepted a shipment from abroad.

That led to a raid on Maylen’s home, where the weapons were found haphazardly stored in boxes.

Maylen admitted 15 counts of possessing a prohibited weapon and one of illegally possessing ammunition he had acquired between 2019 and the raid on his home last year.

He has 27 previous convictions for unrelated offences.

Judge Kirsty Real said: “The court’s concern is what was going on here?”

Leila Tai, defending, said there was no evidence her client had been involved in related criminal activity and that a search of his bank account had not shown any suspicious activity.

Instead, she said, Maylen was an enthusiast who interested had shifted from motor engines to firearms.

Ms Tai added: “The prosecution say he intended the firearms to be used for a criminal purpose, but there’s no evidence to suggest the onward sale of these items.

“I can understand the court’s concerns but the weapons and components we’re talking about were stored neatly in boxes – they were never taken out; never used.

“He tells me he never even fired any of them.”

She pointed out that Maylen lived with his elderly mother, for whom he acted as carer.

Judge Real said: “This whole case is very worrying.”

She sentenced Maylen to five years and four months imprisonment.

In addition, Maylen will be subject to a Serious Crime Prevention Order upon his eventual release.

Following the operation which led to his arrest, NCA branch commander Chris Hill said: “This is a very significant haul.

“We’ve identified and prevented a large number of lethal weapons reaching the streets of the UK.

“These weapons had the potential to cause devastation within our communities.

“There is no place in the UK for illegal firearms which often end up in the possession of organised criminals who use them to enforce their operations.

“Protecting the public from the threat of the criminal use of firearms remains a key priority and we work with partners at home and abroad to combat their importation into the UK.”