Dartford Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm Possession After Sawn-Off Shotgun Seized
A 23-year-old man from Dartford has admitted possession of a firearm after police recovered a sawn-off shotgun and rounds of ammunition from a van he was travelling in.
Shotgun and Ammo Found in Van During Intelligence-Led Stop
Tyler Tanner, of Henderson Drive, Dartford, pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, 23 October. He is set to be sentenced on Monday, 14 December.
On 17 June, Tanner and a 27-year-old man were driving a white Transit van into a cul-de-sac in Longfield, Kent. Tanner was spotted returning to the van carrying an orange plastic bag before sitting back in the front passenger seat.
Specialist officers, aided by armed police, followed the van as part of an intelligence-led operation before pulling it over nearby.
Officers Find Sawn-Off Shotgun and 40 Rounds of Ammunition
A search uncovered an orange carrier bag in the front passenger footwell containing a firearm with two barrels. Inside was another black plastic bag holding around 40 shotgun cartridges.
The weapon was confirmed to be a sawn-off shotgun after being made safe and tested.
Both Tanner and the driver were arrested on suspicion of firearm possession and taken to a south London police station. Tanner was charged later that day.
Met Detective Warns of Firearm Dangers and Urges Public Help
Detective Inspector Stephen Masterson, Met Specialist Crime Command, said: “This investigation has taken a deadly weapon off our streets. Each cartridge we seized could have caused serious injury or death.”
“Tackling violence is the Met’s top priority. Removing firearms, stopping their supply and transportation, and catching those with illegal weapons is key to this mission.”
“But we cannot do it alone. We urge anyone with information about violent crime to come forward to the police or contact Crimestoppers if they prefer to remain anonymous.”
