A man has been jailed for a string of drugs and firearms offences.

Ayiab Mahmood, 33, was sentenced to a total of 12 years at Snaresbrook Crown Court today after police found an AK47 assault rifle, a semi-automatic handgun, a revolver, more than 160 rounds of ammunition and almost 2kg of cocaine at Toni Gibbons’s Bisson Road, Stratford, home.

Officers also found about £55,000 in cash when searching the property before arresting Mahmood on Friday, September 9.

Gibbons, a nursery nurse, was wearing Prada trainers and was carrying a Louis Vuitton handbag when she was arrested three days earlier.

Mahmood, from Warwall, Beckton, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a prohibited firearm, possessing a prohibited weapon, possessing expanded ammunition, possessing ammunition without a firearm certificate, possessing a Class A drug with intent, possessing criminal property and being concerned in supplying Class A drugs. He was sentenced to 12 years.

Gibbons, 28, pleaded guilty to possessing criminal property and being concerned in supplying Class A drugs. She was handed a two year suspended sentence..

The police made the arrests as part of an investigation targeting criminal gangs involved in the illegal supply of firearms.

Det Insp Steve Meechan said: “This was a complex investigation, driven by a wealth of intelligence sourced and secured by officers, targeting organised criminal gangs, actively involved in the illegal supply of firearms.

“The high powered weapons and ammunition recovered in this case were destined for London’s criminal fraternity including those involved in gang violence. I have no doubt that removing them from circulation has prevented death or serious injury.”