A man caught with an illegal Russian pistol after fleeing police during a Newham taxi stop-and-search has been jailed for six years.
Walid Adam, of Aldridge Road Villas, Notting Hill, was today sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court after pleading guilty to possession of both a firearm and ammunition, plus possession of cannabis at the same court on March 21.
The 28-year-old man was found with the converted Baikal Russian handgun following a routine taxi inspection operation in Romford Road, Manor Park, on February 18.
After a police officer noticed a strong smell of cannabis coming from inside the vehicle, Adam was asked and admitted to having the Class B drug.
He stepped out from his passenger seat but ran off into a adjacent housing estate, chased on foot by several officers.
The criminal threw away an object – later discovered and identified as the handgun – with his right hand before tripping and falling to the ground.
He was then detained and arrested. Officers later discovered a magazine with seven rounds of ammunition. Adam was charged on February 18.
PC Richard Roberts, from the Met’s Trident Area Crime Command, said: ”I am pleased that Adam has received a custodial sentence. You only have to read some of the tragic cases where firearms have been used to know how much of an impact they have on families and on communities as a whole.
“Trident officers remain committed to ridding the streets of London of these dangerous weapons.
“Those who are involved in the distribution and carrying of these weapons should be aware that we are actively carrying out operations to catch offenders.”
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