A man from Bexley has been jailed for his role in the purchase and sale of £5,500 handguns capable of causing "lethal injuries".

In total, four men were sentenced for a range of firearm offences after an operation by the police to crack down on guns and crime uncovered the weapons plus a Glock firearm and a Taser.

Billy Flynn, of Rowanwood Avenue, Sidcup, was sentenced to 11 years and three months’ imprisonment for possession of firearms with intent to endanger life.

It comes after the 22-year-old was revealed to be involved in the suspected purchase of four handguns and their ammunition.

He was jailed at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday after being found guilty at the same court on Thursday, January 13.

The court heard that on 17 September, 2020, police had cause to conduct observations at a business premises in Hackney, where they witnessed a brown paper bag being placed by Hasan Ekinci into the boot of a car driven by Ahmet Budak.

Armed police followed the car onto Gale Street in Dagenham where it was stopped, and in the boot of the vehicle officers found two brown paper bags containing four handguns and 40 rounds of 9mm ammunition. These were marked as Sig Sauer P226 handguns.

Budak, 35, and Ekinci, 41 were detained and arrested for firearm offences at the scene.

Officers returned to Hale End Road, an address linked to Budak, and a search revealed a Glock firearm and 20 rounds of 9mm ammunition hidden in the kitchen. They also searched an address linked to Ekinci on King Edward Road where they found a Taser in a bedroom wardrobe.

All of the handguns and ammunition were submitted to the firearms lab and have been confirmed as viable and capable of causing lethal injuries.

Officers identified Blaine Nurden through analysis of mobile phone call records as arranging the firearms deal from within prison.

At the time of this offence he was serving an existing prison sentence for previous firearms and drugs offences.

Phone analysis and CCTV of phone top ups identified his brother, Haydn Nurden, and Flynn as customers for the firearms.

Examination of a handset seized from Haydn Nurden showed him sending a text message to Flynn on the day in question, asking him to bring the '5500 x 2' when he was ready.

Police suggested to the court that £5,500 would be a reasonable price for each firearm.

As well as this, Budak had programmed an app in his phone to take him to an address in Dagenham, which was linked to the Nurden family.

Over the next few months Budak, Flynn and both Haydn and Blaine Nurden were charged with firearms offences and remanded in custody. They were all sentenced on Friday.

Hasan Ekinci, 41, of King Edward Road, Hackney pleaded guilty to possession of firearms with intent to endanger life/cause another to do so in relation to this case on 11 June, 2021. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Detective Inspector Lewis Sanderson, from the Met's specialist crime team, said: "The criminal use of firearms has the most tragic consequences on our communities. The work of detectives in taking these lethal weapons off our streets is vital and there is no doubt in my mind this has prevented serious violent crime.

"This investigation demonstrates our commitment to holding those involved in the distribution of these weapons to account. I hope these convictions send a strong message to those involved, we will seek you out and bring you to justice.

“The Met is committed to tackling and reducing violent crime. Part of this involves relying on our communities to come forward with any information they have about anyone who may be carrying a weapon.”