A New Addington man, who was caught taking part in a gunfight, is facing the next year of his life behind bars after being found guilty of possessing a firearm and crack cocaine.
Nehemiah Taylor, 22, of Oakbank Grove, Fieldway, was sentenced to a year in prison last Friday after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm at an earlier hearing at Inner London Crown Court on April 14.
He received another three-month custodial sentence for possession of crack cocaine, which will run concurrently.
Taylor admitted having the gun in his possession during a firearms incident in Streatham in April 2003 but claimed it was only in his possession for 10 seconds.
He was among a group of youths caught on CCTV trading shots with another gang after the two groups had fought. Police chased and caught Taylor, who attempted to hide the gun. The CCTV footage captured him trying to hide the weapon which was recovered.
A police spokesman said: "Despite Taylor claiming he only had the gun in his possession for 10 seconds, the sentence imposed on him shows how seriously the courts and police view the use of firearms."
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