TWO men from Barnsley have been convicted after they attempted to buy two hand grenades so they could ‘kill a rival drug dealer’.

Jack Downend, 21, and Richard Jawadnass, 22, were arrested as part of an intelligence-led operation carried out by officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) last July.

The pair were charged with attempting to acquire an explosive substance with the intent to endanger life.

NCA investigators discovered messages on their phone after the arrest which showed them discussing weapons to buy to settle a feud with another drug dealer.

They had arranged for the grenades to be shipped to an address in Wakefield.

In one conversation, according to the NCA, Jawadnass said he wanted to ‘whack my man bad’, while Downend encouraged him not to rush, saying ‘move smart with it, needs to be done properly’.

Jawadnass pleaded guilty to the charge and Downend was found guilty after a six-day trial at Leeds Crown Court.

They will both be sentenced on July 10.

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