Weapons‑making couple jailed for stockpiling firearms, explosives and extremist material

A couple who stockpiled lethal weapons, manufactured ammunition and discussed preparing for a so‑called “race war” have been jailed today at Kingston Crown Court, alongside two associates who purchased firearms from them.

Thomas McKenna, 60, and Tina Smith, 55, were convicted after trial of multiple firearms and explosives offences, including converting blank‑firing pistols into viable guns, manufacturing explosive powders and IEDs, possessing prohibited weapons and collecting terrorist information.

Allan Crosby, 44, and Ryan Smith, 44, were sentenced today for drugs and firearms offences after admitting buying converted weapons from McKenna’s criminal network.

Bethan David, Head of Counter Terrorism at the CPS, said: 
“Thomas McKenna, supported by Tina Smith, converted and sold illegal weapons and ammunition to criminals as part of a dangerous and highly organised enterprise. 

“There is no scenario in which they could have believed these weapons were destined for anything other than serious harm. 

“It is only thanks to the work of our policing partners that these weapons have not been linked to fatal incidents. 

“Both McKenna and Smith held extremist anti‑Muslim views. Their stockpiling of weapons and explosives was not simply criminal opportunism — it was fuelled by a belief in the inevitability of violent conflict. 

“Today’s sentences reflect both the seriousness of their actions and the extremist motivations behind them.”

A covert weapons workshop and an extremist mindset

Thomas McKenna operated a hidden weapons workshop from a static caravan in Essex, where he converted blank‑firing Turkish Ceonic pistols into deadly firearms. Forensic experts linked these weapons to ammunition modified by McKenna and Smith to cause maximum damage on impact.

Investigators discovered a viable IED containing black powder and shrapnel, alongside more than four kilograms of explosive precursor chemicals, another IED without shrapnel and detailed manuals on weapon construction.

Digital communications showed McKenna describing plans for armed rebellion, while Smith expressed violently anti‑Muslim views and discussed “shooting them all” in messages to associates. A timeline demonstrated how their extremist beliefs intensified in the months before and after the 7 October Hamas attack.

The strength of the evidence — including forensic analysis, surveillance, WhatsApp messages and cell‑site data — led McKenna and Smith to plead guilty before trial.

Allan Crosby and Ryan Smith, both customers of McKenna, acquired converted weapons from the network and were linked to the items through DNA evidence. Police also found cocaine valued at street‑level dealing quantities at Crosby’s home.