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Gun Traders Told They Face Longer Sentences

Friday 3rd February 2012

Criminals who trade in illegal firearms are being told they will face severe sentences - after leading judges doubled the number of years served by a man caught in London with a loaded revolver.

The Court of Appeal has agreed to double 23-year-old Zephen Rollings five year sentence saying it was unduly lenient.

Rollings was found with the gun outside a flat in Brockley in July last year. It was loaded with 'dum dum' bullets - which are described as "particularly dangerous."

The Solicitor General has welcmed the strong stance on sentencing firearms cases.

He said in a statement today, "In my view the original sentence of five years was unduly lenient and did not properly reflect the seriousness of the crime.

"It was truly shocking that a gun loaded with dum dum bullets, which expand on impact, was being carried in broad daylight in a residential street."

It comes after a former gang member now advising the MET Police revealed yesterday on LBC 97.3 that firearms could be bought on London's streets for as little as £40 pounds.

20 year old Jermain Lawlor spent most of his teenage years in gangs and revealed to us that buying a gun is as easy as topping up a moble phone.

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