A man stopped by armed police on his way home from buying a pair of Marigolds at his local shop had a gun in his pocket.

Dean Philpott, 34, was handed the antique revolver seconds earlier by 63-year-old Paul Saunders as surveillance teams watched on in Erith.

He'd left his home in the town's Hemsted Road on the evening of November 20 2018 and walked the 300 yards to Saunders' parked Renault Megane where the exchange took place.

After 35 seconds Philpott got out and walked to a nearby convenience store and Saunders drove off but was immediately stopped by firearms officers.

Police swooped on Philpott as he left the store clutching the rubber gloves.

The weapon was found in his tracksuit pocket wrapped in freezer bags and tape.

In interview he claimed the gun was for display purposes only and wrongly insisted it could not fire bullets. He was charged the next day.

Saunders, of Ramillies Road, Sidcup, was charged last May after forensics tied him to the revolver and phone analysis showed he had Googled incriminating phrases such as ‘loophole that allows criminals to own working antique guns’, ‘does ammunition expire’ and ‘how long do guns and bullets last.’

When charged he replied "this is ridiculous".

Both men have now been jailed for five years at Woolwich Crown Court.

Philpott was found guilty of possession of a prohibited firearm and Saunders was found guilty of possession of a prohibited firearm and the transfer of a prohibited firearm. Saunders also admitted possession of amphetamines found during the police stop.

DC Marlon Guthrie, the investigating officer, said: “I am pleased that the jury saw through the defendants’ lies and chose to convict them due to the overwhelming evidence we gathered against them.

“The Met is committed to taking people like Philpott and Saunders, and the firearm they had, off the streets of London.”

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