Details of a deadly Mac-10 submachine gun which was used to murder a music producer can now be revealed after the conviction of the drug dealer who hid it under his kitchen cupboards.

David Swaby, 27, was jailed for seven years last Friday for possession of the gun that killed Richard Holmes, 21, four years ago in a row over “disrespectful” rap lyrics.

The gun was one of 90 blank-firing replica weapons converted by gunsmith Grant Wilkinson in his garden shed in Berkshire.


Watch police test fire the Mac 10



Wilkinson’s Mac-10s are linked to more than 50 shootings and were used in nine London murders, including the shooting in 2007 of Michael Dosunmu, 15 Favoured by drug gangs for its devastating firepower, the military-style weapons became known among inner-city gangs as the “spray and pray” gun.

One of them was fired in Bradford during the robbery in which PC Sharon Beshenivsky was killed in 2005.

Wilkinson, 34, was convicted at Reading Crown Court in August last year of nine firearm offences and faces a minimum of 11 years in jail.

Using the name Grant Wilson, Wilkinson bought 90 blank-firing replica guns in July 2004, which he told the registered dealer in Northolt, Middlesex, were props for a James Bond film.

Inside his workshop police found computer-operated lathes, workbenches, firearms and weapon components in one building and what appeared to be a test-firing range in another.

Wilkinson lived a lavish lifestyle with the profits, driving a Porsche and entertaining his girlfriend in five-star hotels.

Police are still searching for 39 of Wilkinson's Mac-10s and has offered a £10,000 reward for information leading to their recovery.

The gun in Swaby’s possession was found after an observant police community support officer noticed him acting suspiciously near a Mini Cooper car parked in New Road, Mitcham.

Police searched the car, which turned out to be stolen, and discovered 163 grams of pure class A drug MDMA – the pure form of rave drug ecstasy.

Officers then stopped Swaby as he drove a Peugeot 207 in Beddington Corner, Sutton, on June 2 last year, and found £15,000 cash with him.

At the time Swaby had been on the run for two and a half years after being convicted of other drug charges.

During a subsequent search of his flat in Mitcham, officers found several shotgun cartridges and rounds of 9mm ammunition lying on the kitchen worktop.

The Mac-10 loaded with 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition in the magazine was hidden behind a plinth under kitchen cupboards.

At Croydon Crown Court on Friday, Swaby, who pleaded guilty, was handed seven years for possessing a prohibited weapon, three years for possessing ammunition without certificate and 18 months for possessing criminal property.

He was also given six months for driving while disqualified, 12 months for possessing a prohibited weapon and two years for possessing class A drug with intent to supply with all charges to run concurrently.

A police spokesman said Swaby gave Sutton police the false name Vincent Burrows and then swapped to Marcus Burrows.

But fingerprint checks revealed his real identity and that he was wanted by Kingston Crown Court for sentencing on charge of possession with intent to supply class A and C drugs.

Investigations showed he had used the name Marcus Burrows to evade capture from police and even managed to obtain a genuine driving licence with his photo.

The spokesman said Swaby was not connected to any specific gang.

It is not known whether Swaby has used the gun in any other incident.