A man has been jailed after police raided a south London house where he had stashed a loaded gun in a children’s clothes draw.
Police found a total of six weapons including a pump action shotgun and drugs at the address in Lambeth.
They also found ammunition and Class A and Class B drugs in the house including in the children’s rooms.Danny Butler, 45, from Tulse Hill, was sentenced to 18 years for possession of six firearms with intent to endanger life, possession of ammunition, and possession of Class A and B drugs with intent to supply.
The jail term was handed down at Croydon Crown Court on Monday.
The sentencing is the result of an operation by the Met to target those responsible for gang violence in south London.
The investigation began after officers’ pieced together intelligence that suggested firearms were being kept at an address Butler had access to in Lambeth.
Three handguns, one of which was loaded, were among the weapons discovered in a children’s clothes drawer, and another handgun and pump action sawn off shotgun was found in a wardrobe, along with a large amount of ammunition.
In addition, a second sawn off shotgun was found in the coat cupboard in the hallway.
Further searches by officers found Class B drugs lying on the floor of the living room easily accessible to the children. Class A drugs were also being kept inside the TV unit and coat cupboard.
Detective Inspector Nikki Owen said: “Violent crime is linked with the circulation of weapons and drugs, and has such a devastating impact on families and the wider community.
“I’m pleased with the sentencing result. Our investigation has led to our officers removing a dangerous man from our streets, and protecting vulnerable children.”
“Significant and dangerous weapons were found in the house which could have been used to potentially kill or injure others. These have now been removed from the streets of London.”
