Trio caught with firearm jailed

Three young men have been jailed at Isleworth Crown Court for firearms offences after they were stopped in a vehicle with a shotgun.

Georgie Roy Sennis Ashman, 19 (22.08.98) of Tarling Road, E16 was sentenced to nine years imprisonment for conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Akin Akinkunle, 19 (20.01.99) of Turpin Avenue, RM5 was sentenced to eight years for conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Martin Eze, 18 (24.01.00) of Green Lane, RM8 was sentenced to four years and four months for possession of a firearm.

The men had been previously found guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court last December.

On Monday, 3 April 2017, officers from Operation Trident supported by armed response officers stopped a grey Volkswagen Sharan car, in Whalebone Lane North near to the junction with the A12.

Ashman, Akinkunle and Eze were in the vehicle and arrested - after officers found a sawn-off shotgun, balaclava and gloves inside the car.

During the two-month trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court the jury heard evidence that Ashman was involved in gang activity.

The shotgun had been collected from the Collier Row area in order to carry out a possible revenge attack.

Detective Inspector Steve Meechan of the Trident and Area Crime Command said: "This was an intelligence led investigation conducted by Trident officers, targeting criminal gangs actively involved in firearm enabled criminality and acts of violence.

"These defendants posed a significant threat to the public, arming themselves to actively seek out and take revenge upon rival gang members. I have no doubt that arresting and bringing them to justice has prevented deaths or serious injury.

"The substantial custodial sentences handed down to them today, should act as a significant deterrent to those involved in all aspects of gang related crime.

"Trident officers will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to disrupt and detect such criminality, helping prevent significant harm to the communities of London."