A police stop on a distinctive purple van landed the driver with a five year prison sentence after he owned up to having a gun in his trousers.

Officers stopped the vehicle in the High Street, Thornton Heath, because a similar van had been linked to burglaries in the area.

And when they asked James Simpson if he had anything of interest he confessed he had a loaded Walther PPK handgun in his waistband.

Your Local Guardian:

James Simpson admitted to having this loaded gun in his waistband

When police searched his home in Stockwell on November 8 last year, the day after he was stopped, they found more ammunition.

He pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and possession of ammunition at Croydon Crown Court on December 17.

And the 47-year-old was sentenced at the same court yesterday.

Simpson’s 55-year-old passenger was also arrested but he was released without charge.