A GUNMAN caught with a pistol and ammunition in a van claimed spies planted a weapon at his home.

Turkay Ates, aged 32, and Michael Georgiou, aged 63, were stopped by armed police in Bromley. Georgiou had 10 cling film-wrapped bullets and a revolver was found at Ates’ Birmingham home, Blackfriars Crown Court heard.

Judge Timothy Pontius dismissed Ates’ claim it was planted by MI5 as “pure fantasy” and jailed him for 16 years for firearms-related offences.

Georgiou, of Wood Green, north London, was cleared of possessing a firearm to endanger life but convicted of possession of a firearm and ammunition when prohibited.

He is due to be sentenced next month.