Two men have been jailed after police discovered a collection of 'lethal weapons', including a machine gun, buried beneath a paving slab and concealed with garden gnomes.

Officers made the discovery on August 7 when they dug up three firearms buried in the garden of a property in Warminster Square near Anerley.

After forensic examination the MAC-10 machine gun was linked to a drive-by shooting at a barber shop in Beckenham last year.

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The recovered machine gun.

James Gilbert, 23, of Longfield Crescent, Forest Hill, was sentenced to fourteen years having previously been found guilty on June 4 of five counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Tony Waller, 21, of Warminster Square, was jailed for eight and a half years, having pleaded guilty on May 11, to three counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. 

They were sentenced yesterday (July 17) at Croydon Crown Court.

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Jailed: James Gilbert and Tony Waller.

Investigating officer Detective Inspector Paul Dorey, of the Trident Gang Crime Command, said he was pleased with the result.

He said: "No one entering that garden with its pretty flowers and gnomes would have guessed they were cover for something far more sinister - an array of lethal weapons, including a MAC-10.

"I am pleased that sound police work has led today to two dangerous men being jailed and three firearms taken off the streets."

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The garden in Warminster Square.

In November Trident officers stopped a black Nissan Primera in Bournemouth, as part of an intelligence-led proactive operation.

Driving the vehicle was Gilbert, a well-known south London gang member.

He was arrested for conspiracy to possess firearms between May 15 and August 7.

Gilbert had been linked to the recovery of several firearms during that time, including a MAC-10 machine gun and magazine, a Smith and Wesson .44 revolver and a barrel and cylinder for a Smith and Wesson .44, which were found buried in Waller's back garden in Warminster Square.

Two further firearms were recovered linked to Gilbert being a pump action shotgun and Belgian Gate - Loading revolver.

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James Gilbert has been jailed for 14 years.

The weapons, recovered on August 7, were discovered wrapped in plastic underneath a paving slab.

They were forensically examined and the MAC-10 found to be linked to three previous incidents, including a drive-by shooting in Elmers End Road, Beckenham in June 2014.

A man in his 20s suffered a gunshot wound to the hand.

Searches of Gilberts's home uncovered a Nike bag hidden in a bedroom cupboard which contained around £4,000 in cash.

Both Gilbert and Waller were subsequently charged.

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Some of the weapons recovered by police.

Waller's older brother Barry, 28, also of Warminster Square, was found not guilty of three counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and three counts of possession of a firearm on June 4.