A drug dealer who fired a gun at two pedestrians in a road rage incident in Mitcham has been jailed for 13 years and six months.

William Solhotra, of London Road in Norbury, SW16, was jailed at Kingston Crown Court on May 19 he after being convicted at an earlier hearing.

The 35-year-old was found guilty of two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and possession of ammunition.

He had also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A, B and C drugs.

The attack happened at 2.50pm on Saturday, July 2, 2022, on Mitcham Lane, SW16.

Solhotra, who was driving a silver BMW, got into a suspected argument with two men who had just crossed the street and fired a shot at them.

A spokesperson for Met Police said the incident “unfolded in broad daylight on a summer’s day in front of scores of onlookers and motorists”.

All three parties then fled scene before the police arrived - and the two men who were shot at have never been identified by police.

Officers recovered a shell casing from the road and there were no reported injuries following the incident.

Firearm officers stopped Solhotra as he was driving his car from the Crawley area back to London on July 6.

He was arrested in his car where police found the loaded firearm.

It had been concealed in a Emporio Armani strap bag that he was captured wearing only minutes before the incident.

Your Local Guardian: Emporio Armani strap bag in carEmporio Armani strap bag in car (Image: Metropolitan Police)

Detective Constable David Leend, investigator, said: "This scene unfolded in broad daylight on a summer’s day in front of scores of onlookers and motorists.

“Solhotra got into a dispute with the two men in a suspected road rage incident.

“He was in possession of a lethal weapon and thought nothing of firing at the two men, with absolutely no regard for them, or the other people who were going about their business.

“Despite extensive searches, including multiple hospital checks, those two men have never been identified.

“It is sheer luck that no one was injured, or worse; this could easily have been a very different investigation.”

Your Local Guardian: Ammunition from home addressAmmunition from home address (Image: Metropolitan Police)

DC Leend added: “I’m pleased that the sentence received today reflects the gravity of Solhotra’s offence. Anyone else who is concerned in the use of illegal firearms can be assured that they too could find themselves behind bars.”