Gun factory accused breaks down

The larger of the two outbuildings allegedly contained the workshop

A man accused of converting replica sub machine guns into live weapons broke down in tears as he told a court that he had nothing to do with firearms.

Giving evidence at Reading Crown Court, Gary Lewis, 38, of Bourne End, Bucks, described himself as "kind, caring" and having "good morals".

Mr Lewis and Grant Wilkinson, 34, deny turning replica guns into live weapons.

The prosecution claimed these were then sold and have since been linked to 51 shootings, including eight murders.

Mr Lewis told the court that he did work for his co-defendant at The Briars - a property in Three Mile Cross, Wokingham, where it is alleged the gun factory was run in outbuildings.

'Caring person'

He said the work involved construction, painting and tidying up around the house.

Mr Lewis told the court he went into a garage at the back of the property in 2006 to see what was inside and saw a few bits of junk and a tub full of shells which were empty.

When asked by the prosecution what he did about this, he said: "Nothing, I didn't really think about them.

"I just thought it was something to do with the farm area."

Mr Lewis denied carrying out any work on guns and being involved in any operation to convert replica weapons.

"I haven't got anything to do with any of this," he said.

"I'm a kind, caring person... I've got good morals."

The prosecution said converted replica guns had been linked to 51 shootings

Mr Lewis told the court that Mr Wilkinson later told him that the house in Three Mile Cross had been raided and if he was arrested he should say that he was working for a man called Kevin Danaher, who the court was told was killed in 2006.

Mr Wilkinson, of no fixed address, and Mr Lewis deny charges of conspiracy to convert imitation firearms, conspiracy to sell or transfer firearms and conspiracy to sell or transfer ammunition.

They also deny two counts of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon and two counts of possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life.

The trial continues.

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