How a reclusive, social misfit acquired powerful Glock semi-automatic handgun and nearly 100 rounds of expanding ammunition without leaving his bedroom was a troubling aspect of the case.
So just how did he do it?
The loner was an internet addict who spent all day online. He explored the so-called dark web, and used the Tor browser to cover his tracks. It allows users to anonymise their online activities and access websites hidden from general view.
Liam Lyburd, who has been found guilty of planning a mass murder at Newcastle College
Using the ID "Donald Trump" on the Evolution market place website, he bought the Glock frame in Austria and other parts from Turkey and the US, then had them shipped to his Newcastle home. Police computer expert Paul Wells said the principal reason for Evolution to exist was "the buying and selling of illicit goods and services".
How did he pay for it?
Lyburd, who was skilled at computing but out of work, made cash from spreading viruses and making the victims pay a ransom to have encryption on their files removed. He claimed he tricked paedophiles into downloading the virus by fooling them on teen chat sites into downloading a file. His targets had to pay him in Bitcoins, the anonymous internet currency.
The value of Bitcoins fluctuates, but they are currently trading for around £180 each.
What did other people on Evolution say about his attempts to get a gun?
A user named Dangerous Dog warned Lyburd he faced "10 years" in jail if he was caught importing the Glock and ammunition into the UK. The teenager ruefully admitted in court: "I should have listened to them."
A user in the US said it was not worth the risk having a gun here, and he only carried a blade on his visits to this country. He also reminded Lyburd the value of the handgun would halve if he ever used it as it would no longer be a new, unknown weapon. He was also told not to make too many purchases at once as that would alert the authorities.
What does the Home Office say about people trying to import guns?
Border officials and the National Crime Agency work together, using police intelligence to monitor deliveries for illicit items, and their methods are continually monitored to make sure they are kept up-to-date.
A Home Office spokesman said: "The technology we use to secure the border is the most advanced in Europe, and plays a vital role in our efforts to keep offensive weapons off our streets."
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