An arms dealer who used a secret encrypted phone to sell guns has been jailed for 11-and-a-half years.

David Fitzgerald, 58, was convicted by a jury of a conspiracy to sell illegal firearms.

He had earlier admitted seven other gun charges involving weapons found at his home in Biddenden.

The judge, Recorder Sarah Counsell told him one of the people he had been dealing with was later convicted for drug dealing.

Patrick Dennis, prosecuting, said: "EncroChat was an encrypted communications platform. It was the platform of choice for serious criminals for part of the time we are concerned about, in April 2020."

Fitzgerald was arrested at 7.30am on October 14, 2020, when officers attended his home in Headcorn Road.

Mr Dennis said "The defendant was arrested in his bedroom at the address. In the wardrobe of this bedroom was a rucksack.

'Evidence was presented at court that proved he had offered firearms for sale via an encrypted messaging service used by organised criminals'

"This contained a tied blue plastic bag which contained a 7.65mm calibre self loading pistol and a magazine which was successfully test fired and found to be in working order. "

Police also discovered cartridges with full metal jacket bullets and two Luger pistols.

At a storage unit in Headcorn Lane, Headcorn, leased by Fitzgerald, officers located a rifle among fishing equipment near to the door.

"The rifle was stood with the barrel facing up amongst fishing rods," Mr Dennis said.

"It was wrapped in a blanket and then covered in a plastic bag. Attached to the rifle was a plastic container with ammunition."

Investigators from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate recovered encrypted messages sent by Fitzgerald to criminal associates, between March and June 2020. The messages indicated he possessed firearms, including the seized pistol, that were for sale.

Fitzgerald was later charged with conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited weapons, possessing a prohibited pistol, possessing a firearm without a certificate (the rifle) and four counts of possessing firearm ammunition without a certificate.

He pleaded guilty to all the counts except conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited weapons. He was convicted of the indictment after a trial at Maidstone Crown Court.

Detective Constable Terry Hanlon said: "Fitzgerald could have no legal reason for possessing the firearms and evidence was presented at court that proved he had offered firearms for sale via an encrypted messaging service used by organised criminals.

"He sought to hide these weapons but the diligent efforts of the officers who completed the searches ensured they were recovered. Kent is a safer place now they have been taken out of circulation."