A BRADFORD man who was converting firearms for criminal gangs at a suspected "chop shop" in Little Horton Lane has been jailed for 18 years.

Nigel Harrison, 50, of Spicer Street in Bradford, admitted converting imitation handguns into live weapons that could fire expanding bullets.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing ammunition, sawn-off shotguns and other prohibited weapons as well as being involved in the production of cannabis with a street value of up to £23,000 at Chapel Green Works in Little Horton.

Bradford Crown Court heard how Harrison's DNA had been found on converted guns used by criminals in York and Manchester.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC praised police for their work on the investigation and said: "These were handguns for use by customers with organised criminal enterprise.

"For reasons of profit no doubt, you were providing firearms to serious organised criminals involved in drugs.

"The increasing amount of weaponry getting into the hands of determined criminals is alarming."

Prosecuting, Tom Storey said Harrison was "in all likelihood" involved in activating blank handguns and sawn-off shotguns.

In September 2016 police raided premises at Chapel Green Works in Little Horton, where Harrison was living in a caravan parked on the forecourt outside.

Officers discovered specialist tents in which 26 cannabis plants were being grown, with an estimated street value of up to £23,000. CCTV showed Harrison regularly entering and leaving the unit.

They also discovered firearms including a shortened shotgun and a "partially dismantled" blank firing revolver on a workbench, which police believe was being converted into a usable firearm. A knuckle duster taser was also found.

Mr Storey said: "Harrison was involved in dismantling and no doubt reactivating and converting a handgun to render it capable of firing potentially lethal bullets."

Harrison was arrested at HMP Armley on June 25 2016 and later pleaded guilty to charges of producing cannabis, possessing prohibited firearms and possessing ammunition.

The court heard that Harrison has seven previous convictions for 14 offences but none of them are related to this case.

Defending, Stephen Wood said: "He has no previous convictions for firearms or even violence.

"He has taken steps over the course of 2017 to accept what he has done and his cooperation with the Crown Prosecution Service in entering guilty pleas for these complicated offences has no doubt saved the public thousands of pounds."

Harrison was sentenced to a total of 18 years in jail.