A Manor Park man who was part of an organised criminal network across east London and Essex has been jailed for five years.

Amaan Rob, of Berkeley Road, received the sentence for possession of a firearm with intent to cause others to fear unlawful violence and possession of a prohibited weapon.

He had previously admitted the charge at Basildon Magistrates’ Court.

Rob was among eight members of the gang to be jailed for for their involvement in conspiracy to supply cocaine and the conversion of a shotgun.

A ninth man, Stephen Hirst, 44, of Vaughan Williams Way, Brentwood, is due to be sentenced at the same court in September.

Basildon Magistrates’ Court heard how in September 2014, detectives searched a premises in Brentwood purportedly being used by a car hire company.

Officers recovered the sawn stock of a shot gun, £2,600 in cash and two canisters of CS gas.

Subsequent searches found a loaded sawn-off shotgun and 19 cartridges, while drugs were found during the arrests of some of the men.

Det Insp Steve Meechan, from the Metropolitan Police’s Trident Gang Command, said: “These convictions are part of a complex ongoing operation by Trident officers - assisted by Essex Police - to target organised criminal networks that are using firearms to enforce their drug trafficking activity.

“The substantial custodial sentences handed down by the court today should act as a significant deterrent to those involved in these criminal gangs.”

The men received a total of 42 years in custody.

Nikhal Shastri, 22, of Wakefield Gardens, Ilford, was sentenced to 11 years for possession of a firearm with intent to cause others to fear unlawful violence, possession of a prohibited weapon and conspiracy to supply class A drugs namely crack cocaine.

Nigel Hammond, 29, of Ravenoak Way, Chigwell, was sentenced to four years and six months for supplying class A drugs namely crack cocaine.

Ugar Kuckukiravul, 30, a Turkish national of Suffolk House Yard, Brentwood was sentenced to five years for possession of a firearm with intent to cause others to fear unlawful violence and possession of a prohibited weapon.

Aaron Ellwood, 24, of Greenwell Road, Witham, Essex, was sentenced to eight years for possession of a firearm with intent to cause others to fear unlawful violence, possession of a prohibited weapon and conspiracy to supply class A drugs namely crack cocaine.

Lewis Marsh, 18, of Orchard Drive, Frinton-on-Sea, Essex was sentenced to three years and three months for possession of a prohibited weapon and conspiracy to supply class A drugs namely crack cocaine.

Jorden Hegg, 18, of Birch Close, Collier Row, was sentenced to three years and three months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs namely crack cocaine.

Jake Turton, 18, of Peake Avenue, Kirby Cross, Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, was sentenced to two years suspended sentence for conspiracy to supply class A drugs namely crack cocaine.