Man From Fife Jailed Over Plot to Buy Gun and Ammo Online
A 28-year-old man from Leven, Fife, has been locked up after trying to buy a firearm and hollow point bullets over the internet. James Maxwell also made chilling web searches related to school shootings and primary school holidays, sparking fears of a sinister plan.
Dark Web Searches Raise Alarm Bells
Maxwell was arrested in January 2023 during a crackdown by the Organised Crime Partnership, made up of officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Police Scotland. Investigators found he’d tried to source a gun and deadly ammo online. His phone revealed searches for terms like “Dunblane” – referencing the infamous Scottish school massacre – “primary schools in Glasgow,” and “when do schools break up for Christmas holidays.”
Guilty Plea Ends Twisted Plot
On September 21, Maxwell pleaded guilty not only to firearms offences but also to making indecent images of a child and possessing extreme pornographic material. edinburgh/" title="Edinburgh" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Edinburgh High Court sentenced him to five years behind bars plus a four-year extended license on October 26.
Authorities Sound the Alarm
NCA Scotland’s Branch Commander Rob Miles called Maxwell’s actions “deeply sinister and disturbing,” stressing the vital need to take dangerous individuals off the streets and crack down on illegal gun trade.
Detective Chief Inspector Stevie Elliott of Police Scotland praised the Organised Crime Partnership for their work. “The illegal acquisition and possession of firearms will absolutely not be tolerated in Scotland,” he said.
Sineidin Corrins, Deputy Procurator Fiscal, warned about the “potentially devastating consequences” if the weapon and ammunition had slipped through police fingers.
This case highlights tough policing efforts to keep Scotland’s communities safe from gun crime and online threats.
