An armed man who was chased by police into a crowded nightclub has been jailed.
Nathan Ingram, 29, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment at Wood Green Crown Court after running into the venue, with a loaded pistol in his rucksack, in an attempt to evade officers in the early hours of 29 November last year.
His black Audi Q2 Sport had been pulled over by officers in Hoxton, east London, and he attempted to flee when he was told that he was going to be arrested for drink-driving after failing a breathalyser test.
The Metropolitan Police posted a video of him talking with officers before suddenly making a break for it. He headed for a nightclub across the road before being tackled.
Officers later found a loaded Bernardelli 69 self-loading pistol and a small amount of cocaine in his rucksack.
Ingram, of Hackney, east London, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm, ammunition and possession of a class A drug.
Police said he was sentenced on 27 January.
Police name suspect in London knife murder as £10,000 reward offered
Hundreds arrested for phone theft in London – as Met chief calls on courts to stop releasing offenders
Boy, 13, arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after double stabbing at school
Read more from Sky News
Two charged with murder after death of three-year-old boy
Man denies drugging and raping his wife along with others
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
Detective Sergeant Charlie Leather, who led the investigation, said: “A dangerous weapon has been taken out of the criminals’ hands thanks to a routine traffic stop by eagle-eyed police officers.
“Ingram thought he was quick on his feet – but we were quicker.
“We’re determined to get guns off London’s streets.
“The heavy jail sentence handed to Ingram is a warning to anyone tempted to keep a firearm that they’ll end up spending years behind bars.”
