Rainham gang ringleader Jayden Teko jailed for 10 years for string of drugs and firearm offences
14:00, 29 October 2013
A gang ringleader has been jailed for 10 years for possessing class A drugs and a Second World War machine gun.
Jayden Teko, of Scott Avenue, Rainham, was found guilty of a number of drugs and firearm offences at the Old Bailey.
The 21-year-old was charged with one count of possessing crack cocaine with intent to supply, another of possessing heroin with intent to supply, possession of a Sten machine gun and two counts of possession of ammunition.
In October last year, the Metropolitan Police launched a manhunt for Teko - a leading member of a south London gang who was wanted for recall to prison.
Officers tracked Teko to Kent and arrested him close to Gillingham railway station. They then went to his home in Rainham.
When they arrived, a 16-year-old boy was seen throwing a sports bag out of a window.
He was detained and a large quantity of crack cocaine and heroin was found in the bag, along with several rounds of machine gun ammunition.
A car registration document and a set of keys were discovered in Teko's home, but police could not find the vehicle.
Teko and the boy were arrested, charged and remanded in custody.
The next day, one of his neighbours called police about a vehicle that was blocking their driveway.
This turned out to be Teko's, and a loaded Sten machine gun was found in the footwell.
Teko was sentenced to five years for possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, five years for possession with intent to supply heroin, seven years for the possession of a firearm and four years for two counts of possession of ammunition.
The drugs sentences are to run consecutively and the firearms offences are to run concurrently, which means Teko will spend a total of 10 years behind bars.
The youth, who is from London and now 17, pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition and possession with intent to supply class A drugs.
He was given a two-year supervision order, 100 hours' community service, 100 hours' intrusive training and a one-year electronic tag with strict curfew conditions.
The investigation by the Met's gang crime unit Trident also recovered drugs with a street value of £60,000.
Trident's DCI Tim Champion said the sentence "serves as a stark reminder" of the consequences of joining a gang.
"These convictions demonstrate that Trident will work with our UK police colleagues across both borough and county boundaries to arrest and convict those involved in gang-related criminality," he said.
"In particular, the seizure of the machine gun has prevented a lethal firearm falling into the hands of violent gang members in south London.
"There are many reasons why people may join a gang. Our experience and research shows that gang members think they will get status, protection, sense of identity and financial gain - they are wrong.
"The reality is that the gang member is more likely to be injured or imprisoned."
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