Walther PPK found on Simpson. Image: Met Police.

James George Simpson, 47 of St. Lawrence Way, SW9 has been sentenced to five years imprisonment by Croydon Crown Court after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life.

He was arrested on the 7th of November by police in Croydon.

During a routine patrol in an effort to reduce burglary in the borough, his van was stopped by officers because a similar van had been been linked to burglaries.

Police asked Simpson if he had anything of interest with him and he confessed to having a firearm, which then led to a search where a loaded Walther PPK handgun was discovered.

Both Simpson and his passenger were arrested on the scene. After further enquiries, the passenger was released without charge.

Detective Sergeant Maria Acworth, from the Met Police’s Trident Gang Crime Command, stated:

Another gun has been taken off the streets and a dangerous criminal will now be behind bars for a long time. This result came about from the good work of the local officers that identified Simpson’s van as suspicious and Londoner’s should feel safer knowing that Simpson and his gun are now off the streets.