A Streatham man has been found guilty of the attempted murder of a police officer he shot at from close range during a high speed chase through Tulse Hill.

Michael Mitchell, 32, from Babington Road, fired at and missed the officer in an alleyway near the St Martin’s Estate on August 8 last year as police chased him on foot.

The officers pursued Mitchell and Turhan Mah-Wing, 21, from Lansdowne Way, Clapham, after they failed to stop their car when police routinely tried to pull them over.

The two men were found guilty of a string of offences at Inner London Crown court on Tuesday.

Mitchell, who was caught hiding under a van in the Tulse Hill Tavern pub by officers minutes after the shooting, was found in possession of 22 individual wraps of compressed cannabis, five grams of crack cocaine and a small knife.

He was found guilty of attempting to murder a police officer, possession of firearm with an attempt to endanger life, and possession of drugs with an intent to supply.

Mah-Wing was also found guilty of firearms offences and dangerous driving.

The court heard that just before 12pm on August 8, three officers were on patrol on the Tulse Hill one-way system in a marked police car when they tried to pull over the defendants who were in a green Ford Focus.

The Focus indicated to pull over before suddenly speeding off on the wrong side of the road and into the estate down Abbess Close.

Mah-Wing was caught in the car by officers when it stopped but Mitchell took off on foot.

As they started to catch up with him, they shouted at Mitchell to stop but he turned, took out a handgun from his waistband, and fired a shot at an officer five metres away.

The bullet missed the officer, who continued to chase the gunman, but lost sight of him.

Mitchell was caught minutes later after a pub punter said he was hiding under the van.

The case was adjourned for sentencing on a date yet to be arranged.

Detective Sergeant Simon Mitchell, the officer in charge of the case, praised the officers’ actions against armed criminals during a routine patrol.

He said: "Their brave and professional actions led to the prompt arrest of both suspects and the recovery of a firearm and ammunition along with quantities of crack cocaine and cannabis.

"Londoners will be proud to know we have officers of this calibre on our streets."