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Man jailed over tiny gun shooting | Man jailed over tiny gun shooting |
(10 minutes later) | |
A man has been jailed for nine years for shooting a fellow clubber with a mini four-inch key-ring gun. | A man has been jailed for nine years for shooting a fellow clubber with a mini four-inch key-ring gun. |
Yaw Darko-Kwakye was shot in the shoulder after a row over his girlfriend in the Departures nightclub in the City of London in December 2007. | Yaw Darko-Kwakye was shot in the shoulder after a row over his girlfriend in the Departures nightclub in the City of London in December 2007. |
Marcus Henry, 27, from Clapham, south London, was found guilty of unlawful wounding and two firearms offences. | Marcus Henry, 27, from Clapham, south London, was found guilty of unlawful wounding and two firearms offences. |
Police believe it is the first example of the potentially fatal weapons being used, the Old Bailey heard. | |
'Severe sentence' | 'Severe sentence' |
Detectives said they believed about 100 of the Bulgarian-made guns, that fit easily in the palm of the hand, were currently in circulation. | |
A consignment of the weapons, designed to be used as flare guns, were brought into the UK a few years ago, and some have been converted to use live rounds, police said. | |
The guns are cocked by pulling part of the key-ring and have buttons on the side to fire them and to open them for reloading. | The guns are cocked by pulling part of the key-ring and have buttons on the side to fire them and to open them for reloading. |
Police believe they pose more of a threat than normal guns, as they can easily be concealed, and are trying to recover as many as possible.Police believe about 100 of the guns are in circulation | |
Mr Darko-Kwakye was shot in the shoulder at close range and police said he was lucky to survive. | |
Det Sgt Dave Carter said: "It is not particularly accurate but from a short distance it can be fatal." | |
Judge Christopher Moss told Marcus that the offence of bringing a loaded firearm into a public place and using it should meet with a "severe prison sentence". | Judge Christopher Moss told Marcus that the offence of bringing a loaded firearm into a public place and using it should meet with a "severe prison sentence". |
The gun used by Henry was found hidden in a sock with traces of his blood on it during a police search of a house. | The gun used by Henry was found hidden in a sock with traces of his blood on it during a police search of a house. |
Investigating officer Supt Colin Cowan said: "Although officers are aware that this type of gun is in circulation, not many have come across one before. | |
"It is only four inches long, could easily pass for a key fob and can fit in the palm of the hand." |
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