Armourer converted deadly weapons for criminal gangs across the country from the cover of his Lake District motorcycle repairs business

A gunsmith who used a Lake District motorcycle repair garage as cover to supply deadly firearms to criminal gangs across the country has been jailed for 22 years.

Mechanic Dudley Brennan, 31, boasted that his engineering skills were ‘literally running through my blood’ when he opened his business in Kendal.

The Cumbrian market town is famous for its sweet slices of mint cake, as well as being the birthplace of Postman Pat.

But behind the scenes his garage was turning blank-fire guns into lethal weapons for gangsters as far away as Somerset.

At the same time, the self-styled ‘key monkey’ was making plans to set up a Breaking Bad-style crystal meth lab targeting vulnerable addicts.

But Brennan’s secret criminal empire collapsed when armed police attacked his headquarters and ordered him out at gunpoint.

Officers from the National Crime Agency didn’t miss a chance, as a cordon had been put up around the industrial area where he was located and the Army bomb squad was on standby.

A search of the garage revealed a firearms conversion factory where a Makarov-style semi-automatic pistol was in the process of being converted to fire 9mm ammunition along with bullets and a silencer.

Brennan was arrested at gunpoint in his garage in Cumbria in March 2024 and investigators uncovered a firearms conversion factory.

The Makarov-style semi-automatic pistol found in Brennan’s garage along with bullets and a silencer was in the process of being converted to fire 9mm ammunition.

Investigators found that he had converted at least two submachine guns, as well as a number of other handguns.

Brennan worked closely with Liverpool criminal Peter Weston, 40, who co-ordinated organized crime groups.

The duo hoped to make a significant profit by converting top-vented blank-firing firearms for gangs to use in fights and turf wars with other criminals.

A search of Brennan’s home in Kendall revealed a small crystal meth production laboratory in his kitchen; here himself and Weston had discussed mass production of the Class A drug.

brennan They believed they could produce up to 100 liters over a 12-hour period with a custom-made design that could be placed and moved on a catering trailer.

He sent Weston a screenshot of an ad for a 1989 Chevrolet GMC Allegro for sale.

Weston, who was jailed for 11 years in 2013 for conspiracy to supply cocaine, replied: ‘Oh, Breaking Bad,’ referring to the Netflix TV series about a chemistry teacher who starts producing crystal meth.

Brennan said he could claim the vehicle was for his business and pass it on to the ‘government as a business tax deduction.’

Mechanic Dudley Brennan, 31, was today jailed for 22 years after admitting conspiring to sell or transfer banned weapons and planning to set up a Breaking Bad-style crystal methamphetamine laboratory.

Peter Weston (left), 40, was sentenced to 26 years and nine months in prison, while Daniel Fitzgerald (right), 32, was sentenced to eight years in prison.

29-year-old Ryan Pilling (left) was sentenced to 13 years and 7 months in prison, while 27-year-old Joshua Ee (right) was sentenced to 13 years and 6 months in prison.

Police raided after Brennan delivered ten Turkish-made Ekol top-ventilation blank-firing guns (pictured) to his garage in Kendal, Cumbria

The couple did not have time to execute the plan before NCA officers arrested them in March 2024.

Both later admitted conspiring to sell or transfer banned weapons and Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

At Bolton Crown Court today, Brennan was sentenced to 22 years and three months in prison, while Weston, 40, of Norris Green, Liverpool, was sentenced to 26 years and nine months.

Later NCA branch commander Cat McHugh said: ‘Brennan and the group were only interested in making money and had no concern for the damage these firearms could do to our communities.

‘They were a real danger to the public.

‘Combating the criminal use of firearms is a priority for the NCA and we will continue to do everything we can to achieve this.’

When Brennan took over the management of the former classic car garage with his mother as co-director in 2021 after spending a decade in Australia, the pair talked about how repairing vehicles was in his blood.

“Ever since he could walk and talk, he’s been able to build engines and build things,” Deborah Reese told a local news site.

Brennan added: ‘The skills I have are unfortunately not taught anywhere anymore.

‘I come from a long line of world-class engineers from both sides of my family, so it’s literally in my blood.’

However, he neglected to mention that he had a conviction for possessing a firearm and ammunition while living in Australia.

NCA officers, dubbed Britain’s FBI, were monitoring the gang and witnessed them delivering 10 Turkish-made Ekol top-ventilation blank-firing guns to the Fell View Trading Park garage.

Weston had arranged a meeting in a parking lot in Lancaster for Brennan to receive the weapons from co-conspirators Daniel Fitzgerald and Ryan Pilling.

Investigators found that they purchased and converted 17 firearms; 12 of them were captured.

Weston was the gang’s sales broker, putting other criminals in contact with armorer Brennan and facilitating the subsequent sale of firearms.

Pilling, 29, of Ashton, and Fitzgerald, 32, of Wigan, admitted conspiring to sell or transfer prohibited weapons and were jailed for 13 years, seven months and eight years respectively.

Joshua Ee, 27, of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to the same offense for his role in transporting the weapons and was sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison.

In February last year, around 3,000 Turkish-made top-ventilation blank firing weapons (TVBF) were handed over as part of an amnesty organized by the NCA and the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

Tests showed that the firearms were easily converted with common DIY tools that did not require expertise and were therefore illegal under the Firearms Act 1982.

Possession of one of the weapons could result in a 10-year prison sentence.

A similar amnesty is currently in effect for five types of Italian-made Bruni TVBF.