Four makes of Turkish guns are now banned from the end of this month after the National Crime Agency - Britain's version of the FBI - proved how easily the Retay, Ekol, Ceonic ISSC and Blow blanks could be turned into deadly weapons.
Charles Yates told The Sun: “Criminals would ideally like to get their hands on a firearm like a Glock because that’s what they’ve seen on TV but they can’t necessarily get hold of one, so they’re having to make do with what they can get their hands on.
In the last four years, cops have recovered 800 guns converted to fire live ammunition - and experts warn it's young, reckless gang members who are the most likely to snap them up for use in trigger-happy shootings.
He was jailed for 22 years after his victim, known only as Jakob, spent two weeks in hospital and later returned to Poland saying the attack - featured on Channel 4’s 24 Hours in Police Custody - had destroyed his life and left him too scared to leave his home.
NCA deputy director Charles Yates told The Sun: “Your traditional organised criminal is probably going to think twice before using a firearm whereas your urban street gang is likely to more readily use them.”.
