Woman tried to make gun with 3D printer
A woman ‘obsessed with weapons’ has been jailed for eight years and six months after she tried to make a gun with a 3D printer at her home in Lincoln.
Zoe Watts, of St Helens Avenue, was sentenced when she appeared at Lincoln Crown Court yesterday.
The 39-year-old was found guilty of trying to make a gun using a 3D printer when she appeared before the court in June.
Watts was pulled over while driving her car in Lincoln and arrested by armed officers last December.
A warrant was executed on her home at the same time where investigators found a stockpile of weapons and materials.
Officers discovered parts needed to create two firearms using a 3D printer – one gun was just a single part away from being operational.
Lincolnshire Police officers acted when they received information indicating Watts was buying illegal material online and planned an operation to arrest the defendant while recovering the prohibited material and protecting the public.
The plan saw officers target Watts when she left her home, while others carried out a search of her property.
Once inside, officers found an ‘Aladdin’s cave’ of weapons, including knives and a crossbow, alongside parts for 3D printed guns.
Investigators combed through her internet search history where they discovered a number of worrying searches.
She had used Google to ask, ‘has anybody been killed by a 3D printed gun?", had researched weapons and was looking for avenues to buy new weapons.
Watts claimed she was creating the weapons as toys in a defence victim statement before she was convicted.
The court also issued a forfeiture destruction order and for five years after her release will be the subject of a serious crime prevention order. The conviction and sentencing are the first of their kind in the UK for this type of offence.
It ends a lengthy investigation by Lincolnshire Police which saw multiple departments work together to bring Watts to justice.
The Force’s tactical support vehicles, armed response crews and more worked together to leverage the information they had to keep the public safe.
Detective Inspector Gemma Skipworth said the case demonstrates the effective teamwork at the heart of the force and should give would-be criminals pause for thought.
“This sends a clear message that if you’re doing something wrong behind closed doors, it doesn’t mean you’re safe and can break the rules with impunity.
“3D printers are becoming more and more popular, and people are naturally exploring what they can do with this technology.
“But it’s important to know that when you are downloading plans and use a machine to produce something like a firearm, you’re breaking the rules.
“And if you are caught, you will face a lengthy jail sentence – so please think about what you’re doing.
“This case shows how committed my colleagues are to keeping the people of Lincolnshire safe and I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who worked on this case.”
