A gang member who stashed guns at the homes of “vulnerable individuals” across south west London has been jailed for almost 20 years.
Kyle Blackford, 22, was found guilty of possession of a firearm and ammunition at Kingston Crown Court.
He was sentenced to 18 years behind bars with a minimum term of 12 years.
Two individuals whose home was used to store one of Blackford's guns were also jailed.
In March last year builders found a shotgun in some bushes in Endeavour Way, Wimbledon.
It was wrapped in a pillowcase and two plastic bags and placed inside a holdall along with shotgun cartridges, jogging bottoms and gardening gloves. DNA tests on some of the items led police to Blackford.
Officers then raided the home of Jackie Curtis, 29, and Stuart Davidson, 32, in connection with the investigation and found another gun wrapped inside socks as well as drug paraphernalia and a stolen bike worth £5,000.
A second raid three months later at a different home in Mitcham unearthed a pistol, again wrapped in socks and plastic bags.
Both firearms were linked to Blackford via DNA.
Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Tim Grinsted from Trident and Area Crime Command said: "Blackford clearly had a strong hold over Curtis and Davidson, which is why he stored firearms at their address.
“Individuals who are addicts or vulnerable are often used by gang members to store items such as drugs, stolen property or firearms in order to keep their hands clean and avoid detention by the police.
“The gang member can exert their control over these people by feeding their drug habit or, in many instances, by fear or use of violence.
"I am pleased with these sentences and the knowledge that three guns have been taken off the streets of London."
During the trial, Curtis and Davidson were found guilty of possession of a prohibited firearm and handling stolen property. They were sentenced to five and a half years in prison each.
A man who lived in the second home whch was raided was found not guilty. He claimed to have not known about the gun.
