"Dangerous" arms dealers have been jailed for supplying guns to the criminal underworld through a deadly business run from a Croydon garden shed.
Five gangsters were convicted of trading firearms after detectives uncovered their stash of hand guns, 300 ammunition rounds, thousands of bullet casings and a bomb-making manual.
The group's kingpin, James Walsh, 40, of Wilkinson Gardens, South Norwood, hosted meetings in a large shed behind his home, where the gang plotted to sell weapons that police said could "wreak havoc" on London's streets.
His accomplice, Henry McGuire, 62, stored 2,000 homemade bullet casings, gunpowder, grenades and explosive flares in the first-floor bedroom of his Brixton home.
A bomb disposal squad was called to secure the house after the haul - which also included mortars, railway detonator caps and equipment for manufacturing bullets - was discovered in March.
Acting Detective Chief Superintendent Kevin Southworth, of the Metropolitan Police, said: "The weapons these men were supplying had the potential to wreak havoc. The streets of the capital are significantly safer with these men behind bars."
A Magnum revolver was found at Walsh's home in South Norwood
Police arrested the gang after raiding the homes of Walsh and McGuire on March 10.
Walsh was jailed for nine years at Croydon Crown Court on Friday after being found guilty of conspiracy to sell firearms. He pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited Magnum revolver found at his house.
McGuire, of Branksome Road, was jailed for four years after being convicted of conspiracy to sell firearms.
Maxwell Jarrett, 29, of Highfield Hill, Upper Norwood, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty of the same charge.
John Remi, 48, of Bromley, and Jason Flemming, 41, of West Norwood, were each convicted of encouraging or assisting the sale of firearms. Remi was jailed for 15 months and Flemming for two years.
Detective Inspector Paul Dorey, of the Met's Trident gangs unit, said: "We are pleased with the sentencing of these five dangerous criminals, who were intent on endangering people's lives through the supply of firearms to south London gangs.
Jailed: Arms traders Jarrett, left and McGuire
He added: "Following a complex and protracted investigation by Trident officers, a number of firearms, ammunition and manufacturing equipment has been seized together with manuals featuring instructions on homemade firearm and bomb making assembly.
"These convictions serve as another reminder to anybody involved in the possession, supply and use of firearms that officers from Trident will continue to actively pursue and place them before the courts."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here