Zoe Watts, a 38-year-old Lincoln resident, is presently on trial at Lincoln Crown Court. She stands accused of using a 3D printer in an attempt to manufacture a banned firearm. Police arrested Watts following a search of her St Helen’s Avenue home, where they reportedly found several weapons. Watts, however, contests the charge that she tried to make a prohibited firearm between January and December 2024.
At the trial, prosecutors alleged that Watts sought to produce an FGC MK II Nutty submachine gun, a firearm prohibited under Section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968. According to them, the initials of the gun stand for ‘F**k gun control’, suggesting its design aim was to avoid detection by law enforcement agencies.
During the house search, police reportedly found a 3D printer, a machete, a crossbow, and a variety of metallic components among other items. Prosecutors brought forward evidence of internet search activity linked to guns and weapons, carried out just prior to the police search. While the 3D printed weapon was non-operational due to manufacturing errors, the prosecutors’ case is that Watts had the intention of creating a lethal weapon. Conversely, Watts defends that her aim was to manufacture a toy rather than a weapon. The trial continues.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post with reference to the original news reporting by www.bbc.com.
