Brothers jailed for firearm offences

Two brothers who manufactured and sold illegal guns and bullets have been sentenced to a combined 13 years and four months in prison.

Tony Graham, 40, of St Johns Road, Dudley was jailed for eight years and one month, while Simon Graham, 38, of Holly Hill Road, Birmingham was jailed for five years and three months.

The men were sentenced today (18 August 2023) at Birmingham Crown Court.

The brothers were caught after a West Midlands Police investigation linked them to the conversion and sale of guns.

In June 2021, police recovered numerous types of ammunition and manufacturing tools from Simon Graham’s address while Tony Graham’s laptop showed significant searches and over 1800 images of firearms and obsolete cartridges.

Simon Graham pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to manufacture, sell and transfer prohibited weapons and ammunition on 21 February 2023 at Birmingham Crown Court.

On 25 July 2023, Tony Graham pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a firearm when prohibited and two counts of conspiracy to manufacture, sell and transfer prohibited weapons and ammunition at the same court.

One of their Essex customers, Tony Stokes, 26 of Wickford Avenue, Basildon also pleaded guilty on 5 April 2023 to possessing ammunition without a firearm certificate or authority and will be sentenced at a later date.

Another associate, Bailey Mcilroy, 19 of Lysander Road, Birmingham, was convicted following trial of possessing a converted firing pistol and ammunition and will be sentenced later.

Hannah Sidaway of the CPS said: “Tony Graham and Simon Graham made a business out of supplying criminals with guns and bullets regardless of the consequences to society, and their contacts Tony Stokes, Bailey Mcilroy and others engaged with them solely for their firearms connections. Possessing and using illegal firearms puts lives at risk and has a detrimental impact on our communities. The defendants showed no regard for the potential loss of lives that could have resulted from the guns they either sold or bought. I hope this case sends a clear message that those who produce and sell illegal firearms and ammunition will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”