A Rainham man has been jailed for nine years for selling weapons and ammo to a gang - following a brazen exchange in Wennington High Street.

Ahmed Mudhir, of Palliser Drive, handed over a bag containing a semi-automatic pistol, a silencer, and 20 live bullets to Vitor Tavares, Nilton Abdullah, and Abdirahman Dirir, Met Police said.

The handover took place in an Audi belonging to the three buyers, in Wennington High Street, at around 6.30pm on May 5.

Afterwards, Audi driver Dirir, 29, dropped off his two passengers at a local cab office where they tried to make off by taxi, but armed police swooped on both vehicles – and all three were arrested.

Mudhir, 27, was arrested outside his home two days later.

Inside police found two semi-automatic pistols, two silencers and two boxes of ammunition, identical in appearance to those seized on May 5.

The four men were sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court last Thursday (October 13). All had pleaded guilty at a previous hearing.

Det Insp Chris Jones, of Trident, said: “I am pleased with the sentences. The conviction of Mudhir has significantly reduced the availability of illegal firearms to criminal gangs within London.

“Supplying these weapons with silencers and ammunition demonstrates the evil intent of Mudhir and the criminals who purchase them.

“London’s communities are safer as a result of the sentences.”

Abdullah, 29, of Tinniswood Close, Highbury, and Tavares, 27, of Vincent Road, Woolwich, had earlier pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon and ammunition, and were each sentenced to six years in jail.

Dirir, of Upper Park Road, Belvedere, had earlier pleaded guilty to the same charges and was sentenced to six and a half years. .

Mudhir pleaded guilty to possessing and supplying prohibited weapons and ammunition at an earlier hearing.