The man who manufactured and supplied deadly firearms from homes in Birmingham has been jailed

A man who manufactured and supplied improvised firearms in Birmingham and London has been jailed for almost 13 years. Police discovered a white converted trigger gun – hidden behind a shoulder bag in the back garden of a house in Headingley Road, Handsworth, where Kemarn Riley lived – when they went to investigate a report of criminal damage in January last year.

The shoulder bag contained two live shotgun shells, and another bag found in the garden contained two metal pipes, which officers suspected could be combined to make a “pistol slam”. A slam gun consists of a barrel that can contain a shotgun shell, which when another barrel is inserted, is discharged by a sliding and slamming motion of the user.

The guns, ammunition and bags were taken from the property for analysis and were forensically linked to 24-year-old Riley.

Read more: Flash Line dealer who ‘left’ begged for weekend freedom to go to church

In February, another gun was recovered from a vehicle in Handsworth. Riley was not present when the gun was seized, but when it was analyzed, it was traced back to him.

This led the police to believe that he was involved in the supply and manufacture of these deadly devices. Riley was arrested at his new address in Asquith Road, Ward End, on February 28, having moved there shortly after guns and ammunition were discovered at his previous residence in Headingley Road in January.

During a search of his room during his arrest, we recovered a bag containing imitation firearms, shotgun cartridges and metal barrels similar to those found earlier used in the manufacture of stun guns. Other items were also seized, including his phone.

An examination of Riley’s phone revealed messages, images and searches that suggested he was involved in the sale of firearms. When questioned in custody, Riley admitted buying pipes for an associate but claimed he was unaware of their use.

In March 2023, officers from the Metropolitan Police were contacted about viable firearms they had seized in the capital around the same time as the discoveries in Birmingham. These were also stun guns of a similar description and were also forensically linked to Riley.

Riley said “no comment” about the gun sale, but later pleaded guilty to gun possession charges seized in Birmingham last January.

Riley of Ward End, Birmingham was sentenced to 12 years and nine months for manufacturing a gun and ammunition at Birmingham Crown Court last Thursday (May 2). Riley also received five years each for two counts of being in possession of a firearm. His sentences will run concurrently.

Investigating Officer PC Owen Zambra from our Major Crime Unit said: “We have built a strong case against Kemarn Riley and we are pleased with this outcome. The message is clear that we will not tolerate anyone profiting from the production and supply of illegal firearms.

“These weapons can maim and kill and are supplied to criminals who use them to intimidate and cause fear in others. We are working hard to take these guns off our streets and put those involved in their trade like Riley behind bars.”