Two south Cumbria brothers were involved in the delivery of a deadly pistol and ammunition to their family farm believing a Covid-19 vaccination conspiracy would turn the general public into 'unthinking beings'.

Carlisle Crown Court heard how 24-year-old Harry Wilson sourced, ordered and paid in cryptocurrency for the Glock 19 pistol.

But law enforcement agencies in the United States examined a parcel on August 23 and found it to contain the pistol – along with a Glock magazine, 50 rounds of 9mm ammunition and an operation manual.

This was contained within an innocent-looking electronic device.

As a result the National Crime Agency, which leads the UK’s fight to cut serious and organised crime, arranged for a dummy package to be sent in its place.

On August 25, Harry’s brother, 27-year-old Ashley Wilson, signed for the parcel.

He took it into the main building of his family farm at Helsington, near Kendal, and then to a chalet on the site.

Covert recording equipment within it captured the brothers' conversation as it was unwrapped.

Ashley was heard to say: "This is good, innit; order another,” which a judge concluded was his 'excited and immature response to the weapon'.

Prosecutor Chloe Fordham told the court: “The evidence from the phones seized from the defendants shows that they both held extreme views about there being a conspiracy by the elite to have the general population vaccinated against Covid in order to infect them with a substance which would kill the God particle in humans and turn them into unthinking beings.

“This theory was linked to a theory, to which they both appeared to subscribe, which was that the global elite were trying to effect a reset of the economy and all other facets of life.

"One result of this would, according to the theory, be severe worldwide food shortages which would require them to defend themselves and their property.”

Both brothers later admitted attempted possession of a firearm.

Harry Wilson also admitted attempted possession of ammunition without a firearms certificate.

He later spoke of his intention to bury the criminal cache 'for safekeeping'.

Their barrister, Richard Vardon, spoke of a 'quite extraordinary case'.

Neither man had previous convictions and references attested to their positive good character.

As their parents listened in court, Mr Vardon said of the siblings’ contrasting roles in the crime: “Had it not been for Harry, I am satisfied Ashley would not be in the dock.”

They were said to be from a stable family home.

Of their parents, Mr Vardon added: “They never believed for a moment they would be seeing their sons in prison where they are on remand for firearms offences.

"They will do everything in their power as parents to prevent any repetition of offending in the future.”

Jailing Harry Wilson for 30 months and farm manager Ashley for 24 months, Judge Andrew Jefferies QC said: “You are painfully aware the possession and attempted possession of weapons of this sort is extremely serious.”

He added: “Nobody, from what I have read, and particularly your parents, had any inkling that you were engaged in criminality of this seriousness.”