Gun Tinkerer Danny Harle Locked Up for Nearly 10 Years
Danny Harle, 26, from Southwark, was slammed with a nine-year-and-nine-month prison sentence at the Old Bailey on Monday, 21 February. The charge? Possession of a firearm with intent to aid someone else in endangering life.
Undercover Operation Links Harle to Illegal Gun Repairs
Detectives zeroed in on Harle after a shooting rocked Herne Hill in September 2020. Covert recordings revealed Harle’s role in helping a visitor who was struggling with a jammed firearm. On 10 October 2020, Harle advised the man on the “correct ammunition” and later met him again, where he expertly unjammed the weapon and schooled his mate with maintenance tips.
Harle told the man to “grease every time you go out there” to keep the gun firing, effectively turning him into a firearms fixer for the criminal underworld.
Police Slam Harle’s Dangerous Influence
Detective Constable Mick Grimshaw from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command blasted Harle’s reckless conduct:
“Harle put others in danger to further his illegal enterprise. He showed clear disregard for public safety by repairing an illegal firearm and coaching others in how to use it for future shootings. His potential to harm and educate criminals in violent crimes is untold.”
Met Chiefs Praise Tough Sentence
Detective Chief Inspector Daniel Smith of the Central South Command Unit said:
“Lambeth is safer because Danny Harle has been brought to justice. This case shows the Met’s determination to track down dangerous criminals, gather solid evidence, and ensure they face hard time.”
Harle Cleared of More Serious Charges
Despite the sentence, Harle was found not guilty of two counts of attempted murder and another firearm possession charge linked to the Herne Hill shooting on 10 September 2020.
