Westbourne Park man jailed for gun possession

A man from Westbourne Park caught red-handed on his way to collect a pistol and revolver from a gun runner has been jailed.

Mohammed Dinee, 31, of Chepstow Road, was arrested by firearm officers after they stopped his car in Camden in May last year.

Blackfriars Crown Court heard he had planned to collect the guns from Lawson Choo, 29, from Acton, who was travelling in a taxi which was also stopped by officers.

The men were snared after detectives from the Met’s Trident unit received information that the drop was due to take place between the two men.

After stopping their cars, police searched Choo where they found a canvas bag hidden under his coat.

Inside the bag was a loaded silver revolver with two rounds of ammunition in the chambers and an unloaded black semi-automatic pistol.

Both men were arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Choo was charged the same day and Dinee was charged two months after investigating officers found phone evidence that proved he had arranged the drop.

Last week, Dinee was jailed for seven-and-a-half years for possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and Choo received 14 years for possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, possessing a firearm and possessing ammunition without a certificate.

Both men had admitted the charges at an earlier trial.

Detective Inspector Tim Grinsted, from Trident Gang Crime Command, said: “I am very pleased with the sentences handed out by the court. This sends a clear message to criminals who are prepared to endanger our communities by possessing and using firearms. “Officers from Operation Trident will continue to work relentlessly to remove guns from the streets of London and deal robustly with those prepared to put others at risk.”