Two men from Erith and Sidcup have been sentenced to five years in jail after exchanging a gun inside a parked car while undercover officers looked on.

Dean Philpott, 34, of Hemsted Road, Erith, and Paul Saunders, 63, of Ramillies Road, Sidcup, were sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday, March 9.

Philpott was found guilty of possession of a prohibited firearm and Saunders was found guilty of possession of a prohibited firearm and the transfer of a prohibited firearm.

Saunders pleaded guilty to possession of a Class B drug at an earlier hearing.

In November 2018, Philpott was observed by officers leaving his home as part of a proactive policing operation.

Officers saw Philpott get into the front passenger seat of a car driven by Saunders.

Philpott was in the car for approximately 35 seconds before walking into a nearby convenience store.

Assisted by firearm officers, covert Specialist Crime officers stopped and detained Saunders who was found to be in the possession of amphetamine.

Saunders was arrested on suspicion of firearms and drug offences and was subsequently bailed pending further enquiries.

Philpott was stopped and searched by officers when he left the shop having just bought a pair of marigold rubber gloves.

Officers discovered what appeared to be a firearm placed in several freezer bags, inside tightly wrapped black insulation tape, placed inside a torn plastic bag in his right-hand tracksuit pocket.

Philpott was arrested on suspicion of firearms offences and was taken to a south London police station.

In a prepared statement, Philpott accepted possession of the handgun stating that he thought it was an antique that was incapable of firing bullets.

Philpott went on further to say the firearm would have been kept as an ornament.

Philpott was charged the following day.

Following further enquiries, Saunders was charged on May 2, 2019.

Saunders DNA was found on the freezer bags and the plastic bag the gun was wrapped in.

A Phone analysis showed that Saunders had Googled; ‘loophole that allows criminals to own working antique guns,’ ‘does ammunition expire,’ and ‘how long do guns and bullets last.’

The analysis also proved that there had been conversations between the defendants leading up to the meet.

Saunders denied any involvement in supplying a firearm to Philpott and answered ‘no comment’ to all the questions put to him.

When charged Saunders went onto say ‘this is ridiculous.’

DC Marlon Guthrie, the investigating officer, said:

“I am pleased that the jury saw through the defendants’ lies and chose to convict them due to the overwhelming evidence we gathered against them.

“The Met is committed to taking people like Philpott and Saunders, and the firearm they had, off the streets of London.”