A gun and explosives factory linked to organised crime was being secretly run on Britain’s biggest traveller site, the Mail can reveal.
Blank-firing pistols imported from Turkey were converted into deadly firearms for sale to organised crime gangs across London and the south-east.
The workshop, housed in a static caravan, was equipped with drills, lathes and welding equipment and was also used to transform ammunition into illegal ‘dum dum’ bullets, which have hollowed-out heads that expand upon impact with their target.
The underworld set-up belonging to Thomas McKenna, 59, was uncovered after the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, SO15, organised a raid at Buckles Lane in South Ockendon, Essex, in November last year.
The site was authorised as a site for travelling showmen with about 31 caravan pitches in the 1940s but has since been unlawfully expanded to 111 pitches, housing more than 1,000 people.
Officers also discovered gunpowder and evidence of attempts to make homemade bombs inside the converted mobile home McKenna was using.
Evidence of his links to extreme right-wing anti-Muslim activity was also seized at the time.
McKenna came to the attention of SO15 after he was suspected of being the supplier of a converted pistol and expanding ammunition found during a police search of Sterling Sports and Prestige Ltd, a high-end car dealership in Kent.
A raid at Britain’s biggest traveller site in Buckles Lane in South Ockendon, Essex, revealed a gun and explosives factory run by Thomas McKenna, 59
He has now admitted a string of offences including converting imitation firearms into firearms, conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited firearms, conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited ammunition, possession of prohibited firearms and possession of prohibited ammunition.
McKenna’s girlfriend, Tina Smith, admitted one count of possession of a prohibited firearm in respect of one of the converted Ceonic blank-firing pistols.
The pair also both pleaded guilty to making explosives, while the latter admitted attempting to make explosives – although they denied it was in connection with terrorism.
They also pleaded not guilty to being in possession of other weapons including crossbows, throwing axes, a hunting knife and knuckle dusters for a terrorist purpose.
The pair did admit to holding collection of documents and videos relating to making explosives which were likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, including one specifically on how to make a Sten submachine gun from scrap metal parts.
The National Crime Agency has previously warned that organised crime gangs are using blank guns imported from Turkey that are converted into viable weapons in backstreet workshops.
A Crown Prosecution Service source confirmed McKenna and Smith were linked to ant-Muslim extremism but acted independently and were not part of any recognised group.
A source linked to the case said of the raid at Buckles Lane, where McKenna owned several mobile homes: ‘People are used to police turning up on the site, but this was something else.
The traveller site has permission for 31 caravan pitches but currently has 111 pitches, housing more than 1,000 people
A source said of the raid: ‘There was a full-blown troop of armed police in helmets searching everywhere and police vehicles all over the place.’
‘There was a full-blown troop of armed police in helmets searching everywhere and police vehicles all over the place.
‘They said they wouldn’t say what was happening but someone managed to get out of one of them that it was to do with bombs and terrorism.’
Details of the case emerged during the trial of Allan Crosby and Ryan Smith, both 44, who ran Sterling Sports and Prestige Ltd from a business unit in Mereworth, near Maidstone, but were subject to reporting restrictions until it concluded.
The men – who met each other in prison when both were serving terms for separate drug offences – were arrested at their homes in March last year after DNA evidence linked Smith to the gun and Crosby to the ammunition.
Forensic tests of both showed they were made in an identical way to those found at McKenna’s workshop.
Crosby admitted possession of ammunition and possession with intent to supply around a half a kilo of cocaine in June.
But both men denied possession of the firearm found at their car business. Prosecutor Quinn Hawkins said at their trial: ‘They obtained the firearm and ammunition from a man by the name of Thomas McKenna who was engaged in converting and manufacturing items such as these.
‘This they did so through a criminal network of individuals concerned in the supply of prohibited firearms and ammunition to those who wanted them, in London and the surrounding counties.’
Ricky Dorey, 43, who also lived at Buckles Lane, was part of Thomas McKenna’s gang. He admitted conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited firearms
Robert Dorey, 44, another gang member, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited firearms
Mr Hawkins added: ‘His premises were searched by the police on November 6, 2024, and a number of prohibited firearms including converted Ceonic pistols, compatible ammunition, the workshop and tools were discovered.
‘Blank-firing pistols are sold with their barrels purposefully obstructed. McKenna was converting these by drilling or otherwise machining out the obstruction, so that the firearm could then be used to discharge “real” bullets.
‘He was also producing prohibited ammunition by modifying blank 9mm PA calibre cartridges so as to insert within them projectiles that are designed to expand on impact.
‘These were suitable for use in the converted Ceonic pistols and could therefore be supplied together with the lethal firearm, ready to go.’
In addition to McKenna and his girlfriend, the crime gang was made up of Patrick Loughnane, 59, Ricky Dorey, 43, who also lived at Buckles Lane, his brother Robert Dorey, 44, and a woman called Tammy Rigg, 39.
Mobile phone evidence showed that McKenna had travelled from Buckles Lane to Sterling Sports and Prestige in September 2024 and to Sidcup in Kent where Crosby was living.
The prosecution said this was to hand over ammunition and it followed phone contact between McKenna, Loughnane and Ricky Dorey, during which there was mention of ‘seeds’, a criminal term for ammunition.
Crosby denied any knowledge of the gun and Smith said he had not previously seen the gun or ammunition and had no idea how his DNA was on the firearm.
The jury found Crosby guilty of possession of the firearm and Ryan Smith guilty of possession of the firearm and ammunition.
They are due to be sentenced with McKenna and Tina Smith at the court on January 29.
Loughnane, from Hayes, both Doreys and Rigg all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited firearms in connection with separate sales at a separate hearing.
They will be sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on February 27.
