A Holloway man has been jailed for nine-and-a-half years for possession of a sawn-off shotgun.

Sharif Bako, 26, of Sussex Way, fled officers after a car – being driven by accomplice Mohammed Akib Bhatti – was stopped in Twyford Avenue, East Finchley, on April 15.

Bako was found hiding in a nearby garden. A bag he had been carrying was found. It contained a sawn-off shotgun, cash and Class A drugs.

He was jailed at the Old Bailey on Friday, having previously admitted firearms and drug possession offences.

Det Cons Ian Lamb said: “There is no reason why anyone should be driving around London with a loaded shotgun in their car.”

Bhatti, 18, of Leytonstone High Road, was sentenced to 18 months having pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply class A drugs, dangerous driving, driving a vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence, driving without insurance and failing to stop for police.