A Mitcham man who used an innocent driver to transport a gun and bullets has been jailed.

Sebastien Hajda of The Drive, Mitcham and his accomplice Tomasz Mysiak of Quantock Court, Greenford were each jailed for eight years on conspiracy to supply a firearm and ammunition following a hearing at Kingston Crown Court.

The court heard that in April 2017, a cab driver was contacted by Mysiak, who was known to him, asking for him to collect a package from an address in The Drive.

The driver arrived in the area later that evening where police observed him being given a plastic bag containing a box by another man, which he placed in the boot of the cab.

The car was stopped and searched by officers who found the package which contained a handgun and 137 rounds of 0.32 caliber ammunition.

The driver was arrested but explained to the satisfaction of officers that he was an innocent party and been asked to attend the location by Mysiak and did not know what was inside the package.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Paul Hawthorn, of the Met’s Serious and Organised Crime Command, said: “We’re very satisfied to have secured this verdict against two men who conspired to use an innocent man to transport a firearm and a large amount of compatible ammunition.

“Even more importantly, we’re pleased to have removed another gun from London’s streets.

"This is a yet more evidence that the Met is determined to track down those concerned in the use of illegal weapons, that we will find them and bring them to justice.”