Three Men Jailed Over Homemade Guns in South Shields Firearms Plot
Three men are behind bars after police uncovered two dangerous home-made firearms in South Shields. The trio’s plan blew up after one of them, Ciaran Anderson, got cold feet and tipped off the cops.
Gun Plot Foiled After Man Calls Police on Himself
In April 2020, Anderson asked Dale Elliott and John Nimmo to craft him a gun following a row with his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend. But instead of going through with it, Anderson rang the police claiming he’d heard a gunshot on Osborne Avenue – the street where Elliott and Nimmo lived next door to each other.
Police rushed to the scene expecting a shooting but found no evidence of gunfire. Instead, a search of Elliott’s home revealed two working homemade ‘slam guns’ plus materials capable of making improvised ammunition.
Armed Police and Bomb Squad Step In
The discovery triggered a major police response, with armed officers and bomb disposal experts securing the area to protect residents and safely seize the lethal weapons.
Evidence later confirmed that both Elliott and Nimmo had access to and handled the guns.
Five, Ten-Year Sentences for Firearms and Terror Charges
- Ciaran Anderson, 23, of no fixed address, admitted conspiracy to transfer a prohibited firearm. He was jailed for 3 years and 4 months.
- Dale Elliott, 29, of Osborne Avenue, South Shields, pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited firearm and ammunition without a licence. He got 5 years and 7 months in prison.
- John Nimmo, 32, also of Osborne Avenue, South Shields, admitted possessing a prohibited firearm and terror-related offences investigated by Counter Terrorism Policing North East. Nimmo was sentenced to a whopping 10 years and 2 months.
Detective Sergeant Jon Wade, Northumbria Police said:
“This was an incredibly serious case that started with a false claim of a gunshot in a residential area. Armed officers quickly found fully working homemade slam guns designed to cause lethal injury.”
He added, “We also found altered shotgun cartridges with makeshift ammunition inside. I’m pleased justice has been served. Thanks to our officers, bomb disposal experts and the public for their vital support.”
Terror Links and Online Hate Crimes
At the time of arrest, Nimmo was on bail for terror-related charges. In May 2020, he pleaded guilty to encouraging terrorism, possessing and sharing terrorist materials, stirring up religious and racial hatred, and breaching a criminal behaviour order following an investigation into right-wing extremism.
Detective Chief Superintendent Martin Snowden, head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said:
“Online hate crimes cause just as much harm as street offences. There’s no place for hate or division in our communities. We urge the public to report worrying content at www.gov.uk/ACT.”
