Solihull man charged with conspiracy to manufacture, possess and supply firearms

All three were due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court today

General view of of the Victoria Law Courts / Birmingham Magistrates’ court.(Image: Birmingham Live)

A Solihull man and two others have been charged with firearm offences after weapons were seized by police.

Officers recovered a weapon after a car was stopped in Loughborough, Leicestershire, on Wednesday, April 15.

Police said a blank-firer, believed to have been readily convertible into a live-firing weapon, was also seized at an address in the area, along with material used in the production of weapons and ammunition.

A 3D printer was also recovered from a property in Solihull as part of the investigation, police said.

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Ricky Plant, 42, from Solihull, has since been charged with conspiracy to manufacture, possess and supply firearms.Bailey Middleton, 25, from Stonebow Village, Leicestershire, was charged with conspiracy to manufacture, possess and supply firearms as well as possession of a readily converted firearm.He was also charged with possession of a firearm and driving on false plates, having no licence and no insurance.Daniel Smith, 38, from Loughborough, was charged with conspiracy to manufacture, possess and supply firearms as well as possession of a firearm and possession of prohibited ammunition.

A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: “We’ve charged three men with firearms offences as part of a joint operation alongside the National Crime Agency and supported by Leicestershire Police.”Ricky Plant, 42, from Solihull, was charged with conspiracy to manufacture, possess and supply firearms.”Bailey Middleton, 25, from Stonebow Village, Leicestershire, was charged with conspiracy to manufacture, possess and supply firearms as well as possession of a readily converted firearm.”He was also charged with possession of a firearm and driving on false plates, having no licence and no insurance.”Daniel Smith, 38, from Loughborough, was also charged with conspiracy to manufacture, possess and supply firearms as well as possession of a firearm and possession of prohibited ammunition.”All three were appearing at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court today for a first hearing.”It follows the recovery of a weapon after a car was stopped by officers from the NCA’s Armed Operations Unit in Loughborough, Leicestershire, on Wednesday afternoon.”At around the same time, a blank-firer which is believed to have been readily convertible into a live-firing weapon was seized at an address in the Loughborough area, along with material used in the production of weapons and ammunition.

“The operation also saw a 3D printer recovered from a property in Solihull.”