Prof Mark Williams, from Warwick University, helped a West Midlands Police investigation into David Biddell-Portman after officers found several homemade guns at the criminal's house.
Officers found two assault rifles that had been printed on a 3D machine in a wardrobe at Biddell-Portman’s Kitts Green house in December 2020. A search of the 30-year-old's bedroom also uncovered the printer used to make the weapons and a cassette of plastic to print parts.
A police examination found the assault rifles had been printed on the machine - with steel parts added to them for key components which could not be made with plastic. Portman was jailed for five years in June 2023. Now Warwick University bosses have revealed how integral Prof Williams was to the investigation.
An expert in 3D printing and scanning at Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), he was called in by detectives as they built a case against the gunmaker. Machines used by Prof Williams are 100 times more powerful than a hospital CAT scanner and can view images in detail smaller than a human hair.
By using the technology to scan the weapons, he was able to discover the amounts of metal and plastic in each one. The university said his evidence helped prove the guns would work. Prof Williams said: “It’s satisfying to see justice served, and I’m glad to use our technology in any way we can to help the efforts of West Midlands Police.
“By making this sort of technology available to the public sector, we’re ensuring it’s not just big companies that have access to cutting edge techniques. A dangerous criminal is now off the streets thanks to the efforts of West Midlands Police, and I look forward to our continuing work with them.”
By scanning the guns, police ensured the judge and jury were aware of the extensive use of metal in the weapons – a sign that, when completed, they would have been working and potentially deadly weapons. It also meant the state of the guns was recorded if they deteriorated during test firing of the weapons by police, something that often occurs with 3D printed guns.
The scanning also ensured that the police, judge and jury could understand the evidence surrounding the weapons. For many, 3D printed weapons have never been encountered before, and are often irregular and defy categorisation due to their black market, homemade construction. With the scans, police could identify the closest professionally made weapons and make comparisons.
Michelle Painter, Deputy Head of Forensics at West Midlands Police said: “This partnership is invaluable to West Midlands Police, the strength and commitment is truly unique and the boundaries are limitless. The application of the use of Micro CT scanning in criminal cases continues to be innovative and ground-breaking and progresses investigations and brings justice for victims.”
The conviction is the latest success in the decade long partnership between Prof Williams, WMG, Warwick and West Midlands Police. They recently marked a milestone, with the scanning technology having been used in over 300 cases since 2014.
