A teenager who was part of a chat group called ‘domestic terrorism’ was jailed for making a semi-automatic gun using a 3D printer and parts he bought online.
Owain Roberts, 19, of Pill, Newport, made a semi-automatic gun which was tested by firearms officers and found to be a viable weapon.
Roberts was just 17 when he purchased nuts and bolts, steel barrels and metal rods online and used a 3D printer to make the FGC-9 gun, an acronym for ‘F*** Gun Control‘.
A raid on his bedroom also found Nazi posters, gas masks, body armour, knives and ingredients that could be used to create explosives.
A court heard Roberts was a member of an online gaming chat group called ‘Domestic Terrorism’ using the name Strelok which translates as ‘gun slinger’ in Russian.
Prosecutor Rebecca Griffiths said messages from Roberts included posts about Adolf Hitler and indicating he wanted to hurt Jewish people and Muslims.
She said he sent racist and far-right political messages his friends which included, ‘beating up Muslims is my pre-workout’ and ‘lefties are weird.’
Cardiff Crown Court heard Roberts had entered basic military training in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, and undergone training in marskmanship but dropped out after five months.
Owain Roberts, 19, of Pill, Newport, made a semi-automatic gun which was tested by firearms officers and found to be a viable weapon
He purchased nuts and bolts, steel barrels and metal rods online and used a 3D printer to make the FGC-9 gun, an acronym for ‘F*** Gun Control’
Roberts admitted manufacturing a part/component of a firearm and was jailed for four years and nine months
Peter Donnison, defending, described him as a ‘nerd with an interest in mechanical engineering’ and said he was ‘genuinely remorseful for what he had done.’
Roberts admitted manufacturing a part/component of a firearm and was jailed for four years and nine months.
He was arrested by specially-trained firearms officers when they raided two addresses in the city inked to him.
Among the items seized were a 3D printer, two laptops, six plastic reels, 3D printed metal barrels and firearm compartments of an FCG-9.
Speaking after the sentence, PC Tom Meazey, the officer in the case, from Gwent Police’s East Serious Organised Crime team, said: ‘Illegally-held firearms can lead to tragic consequences and devastate innocent people’s lives.
‘To own a firearm, including a printable one, is illegal in the UK without a valid firearms certificate.
‘Roberts did not have one and his reckless and thoughtless actions in buying items capable of manufacturing a firearm have the potential to put people at the direct risk of harm.
‘Fortunately, investigations of this type are rare – the first of its kind for our service – and we’re grateful to the support of the National Crime Agency (NCA) during this complex enquiry.’