A man from Beckton who hid guns in his girlfriends’ homes has been found guilty of ten firearms offences.
Sunny Taiwo, 34, of Holton Road, will be sentenced next month following a four week trial at Inner London Crown Court, which ended yesterday.
Trident, working in partnership with the Metropolitan Police, found guns and ammunition in four of Taiwo’s girlfriends’ homes.
One of his girlfriends, Shereen Lawrence, 32, of Hillcrest Road, Walthamstow, was found guilty of one count of possession of a prohibited firearm and will be sentenced with him next month.
Police found a Miroku 600 double-barrelled sawn off shotgun and 84 cartridges in a cupboard in her bedroom, along with a photo of Taiwo on her bedside table.
Another girlfriend, Leanne Anderson, 26, of Glenarm Road, Hackney is part-way through serving a five year sentence after pleading guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition at Snaresbrook Crown Court last year,
During a search of her home, police found a 9mm Baikal self-loading pistol with a silencer and seven rounds of 9mm ammunition hidden in the kitchen bin.
Trident’s North East team executed a further warrant at a home in Tower Hamlets Road, Forest Gate, where another one of Taiwo’s girlfriends lives.
A 9mm Walther P99S self-loading pistol was found in a storage box on top of the wardobe in her bedroom. She was found not guilty of involvement in any offences.
A further gun was found in the bedroom of a house in Mitcham, under a bed which Taiwo and a new aquaintance were lying on. She was also found to be unaware of his criminality following police enquiries.
Baljit Ubhey, CPS London Chief Crown Prosecutor, said: “CPS London is committed to working with its partners in the Metropolitan Police to rid the capital of the menace of gun crime.
“These deadly weapons, which were willingly concealed by Anderson and Lawrence on behalf of Taiwo, could have gone on to be used in violent crimes - causing devastation to victims and their families.
“Anyone involved with prohibited firearms, including those who willingly hide or transfer weapons, will be robustly prosecuted. I hope these convictions today will send out a strong message that gun crime will not be tolerated in our city.”
Safer London’s Empower programe aims to support women who are in danger of exploitation and coercion to commit criminal offences such as carrying weapons or drugs.
For more information, visit: http://www.saferlondonfoundation.org/project.php
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