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Although Wilkinson has been found guilty, police are continuing their investigation. Detectives have yet to establish how the guns he converted came to be in the hands of London gangs. Wilkinson had no direct connection to them. It is believed that he sold his weapons, for between £1,500 and £2,500 each, to a network that could trade with gangland leaders.

Mr Richardson said: “The question we are still seeking to answer is how do these weapons get from the Berkshire suburbs into the hands of young people in the inner city?”

Claudia Webbe, chairwoman of the independent advisory group to Trident, appealed for public help in tracing the weapons. “We can see very clearly the devastating impact of these guns, particularly and disproportionately, although not exclusively, on black communities,” she said.

“The availability of these weapons has fuelled violence on our streets. They have caused devastating shootings, murders and mayhem.”

At the end of a three-week trial, a jury convicted Wilkinson of a series of offences including conspiracy to convert an imitation firearm, conspiracy to sell or transfer firearms and ammunition, possession of a firearm with intent to enable another person to endanger life and possessing a prohibited firearm.

Garry Lewis, 38, his co-defendant, was cleared of the same charges.

Murders linked to gun factory

November 2005: Richard Holmes, 21, shot dead in Chingford, east London. Two men serving life.

November 2005: A Mac-10 is discharged during the robbery in Bradford in which Pc Sharon Beshenivsky was shot dead with another weapon.

August 2006: Jason Greene, 29, shot dead in car outside his home in Chalk Hill, Wembley. Man convicted of his murder.

October 2006: Antoine Smith, 24, fatally shot in chest near a pizza shop in Clapham. Case unsolved.

November 2006: Jamail Newton, 19, shot dead in Camberwell Road, SE5. £20,000 reward offered for help in solving his murder

February 2007: Michael Dosunmu, 15, shot dead in his bed at his home in Peckham. Two men, aged 19 and 22, convicted of his murder in June and serving life.

September 2007: Daniel Denis, 26, shot in the head in a drive by shooting in Acton. Police continue to appeal for witnesses and information.

October 2007: Robel Tewelde, 21, shot dead in stairwell of the Studley Estate, Stockwell. One man has been convicted of his murder and another is awaiting trial.

July 2008: Curtis Smith, 36, shot dead outside a nightclub on Cable Street, Stepney. A man has been charged with murder.

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