Two men have been jailed after being caught red-handed with a loaded gun and a large hunting knife near a very busy London high street.

Raheem Whittakeer, 21, and Tre Mathurin-Wrightson, 21, of Clapham, were both sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment at Inner London Crown Court today (July 28).

During sentencing, Judge Nic Madge said: “I am satisfied that there was a very real risk that it could be fired with lethal effect.”

Police were initially called to reports of two men breaking into a car in Voltaire Road on April 11. The men then headed toward Edgeley Road.

Officers caught them and found the car that someone reported them for breaking into was in fact theirs.

A revolver, a knife and cannabis were found during a search of the vehicle.

Both men pleaded guilty at an earlier date. They told the court they had gone to the area to have sex with escorts and claimed they found the gun wrapped in a sock under a bin.

The judge rejected this version of events.

Whittaker, of Cedars Road, was convicted of possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of prohibited ammunition without a firearms certificate and having a bladed article in a public place.

Mathurin-Wrightson, of Charles Barry Close, was convicted of possession of possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of prohibited ammunition without a firearms certificate and possession of a Class B drug.

Test revealed the gun was a converted blank firing pistol. It was loaded with two rounds of ammunition and Whittaker’s DNA was subsequently found on it.

Both men were charged on Wednesday, April 12.

DC Dominic Landragin, the investigating officer from Lambeth CID, said: “Today two dangerous offenders were quite rightly imprisoned.

“Weapons and violence is a plight on our communities.

“The weapons seen in this case, a loaded firearm and a large hunting knife are designed for only one thing - to cause serious or fatal injury.

“We are absolutely committed to keeping our communities safe.

“This case is a clear example of how members of the public can help us achieve this aim. If you see something suspicious, please report it - you could save a life.

“If, however, you choose to carry weapons, please know that we will work tirelessly to find you, arrest you and take these awful weapons off the streets of London.”