A TEENAGER who bragged in front of train passengers about carrying a live gun has been jailed for three years.

Mitchell Woods, aged 17, was arrested by Kent Police armed response officers when the London-bound train was stopped in Higham, Gravesham on January 29.

The teen, of Haggerston, east London, was overheard by a member of the public talking about the gun as both waited to board a train at Chatham.

When the 38-year-old passenger challenged Woods, Woods took the gun out of his bag and handed it over.

Woods, who was wearing a sock on his hand, then told the man the gun was loaded, at which point the gun was handed back to him while the man left to call police.

Officers boarded the train at Higham where they arrested Woods and also found a clown mask in his bag.

When the gun was submitted for forensic tests, police discovered that it had previously been used in three London gang shootings.

Woods pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited firearm at Maidstone Crown Court and was sentenced at the same court on May 9.

British Transport Police investigating officer for the case, Detective Constable Bob Gee, said: “While weapons-related crime is rare on the railway, we have been focusing for some time on reducing the carriage of weapons on the network.

“The member of the public showed incredible bravery in the face of what must have been a very frightening and intimidating situation and was deservedly commended by the court for his actions.”