A Zimbabwean film student has become the first person in the UK to be jailed for making a gun with a 3D printer. Tendai Muswere, 26, p...
A Zimbabwean film student has become the first person in
the UK to be jailed for making a gun with a 3D printer.
Tendai Muswere, 26, printed a revolver and a handgun using
plastic resin at his flat in Pimlico in October 2017 and later claimed they
were just props for a project.
He has been jailed for three years after he pleaded guilty
to making the guns, which he said would be used in a film project for his
course at London South Bank University.
The Zimbabwean admitted producing a plastic Washbear
revolver as well as a so-called Hexen Pepper-box handgun - both specially
designed for 3D printing.
Claire Holder, from the CPS, said: 'Muswere claimed that
the firearms found in his flat were made for a university film project and were
incapable of firing deadly shots.
'However, he was using 3-D designs found on the internet
which were specifically for the making of live firearms. Evidence also showed
that he had made repeated attempts to print the weapons, which we believe
showed that he was trying to perfect a workable firearm.
'It is illegal to manufacture or possess prohibited weapons
without a licence. This was the first prosecution of its kind in the UK and we
hope it serves as a warning to anyone who is considering possessing and
manufacturing firearms.'
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