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Bexley man who planned to buy two handguns for more than £10,000 jailed

Billy Flynn, a firearm recovered by police (Met Police)
Billy Flynn, a firearm recovered by police (Met Police)

A Bexley man who planned to buy two handguns for more than £10,000 has been jailed for 11 years.

Billy Flynn was identified as a prospective customer through mobile phone records after police uncovered an ilegal firearms dealing operation in east London.

The 22-year-old, of Rowanwood Avenue, was sentenced to 11 years and three months’ imprisonment on January 28 at Woolwich Crown Court for possession of firearms with intent to endanger life.

Police had cause to conduct observations at a business premises in Hackney on September 17, 2020, where they witnessed a brown paper bag being placed by Hasan Ekinci, 41, into the boot of a car driven by Ahmet Budak, 35.

News Shopper: A firearm and ammunition seized by police (Met Police)
News Shopper: A firearm and ammunition seized by police (Met Police)

A firearm and ammunition seized by police (Met Police)

Armed police followed the car onto Gale Street in Dagenham where it was stopped, and in the boot of the vehicle officers found two brown paper bags containing four handguns and 40 rounds of 9mm ammunition. These were marked as Sig Sauer P226 handguns.

Budak and Ekinci were detained and arrested for firearm offences at the scene.

Officers returned to Hale End Road, an address linked to Budak, and a search revealed a Glock firearm and 20 rounds of 9mm ammunition hidden in the kitchen.

They also searched an address linked to Ekinci on King Edward Road, E9 where they found a Taser in a bedroom wardrobe.

All of the handguns and ammunition were submitted to the firearms lab and confirmed as viable and capable of causing lethal injuries.

Officers identified Blaine Nurden, 28, through analysis of mobile phone call records as arranging the firearms deal from within prison.

At the time of this offence he was serving an existing prison sentence for previous firearms and drugs offences.

Phone analysis and CCTV of phone top ups identified his brother, 25-year-old Haydn Nurden, and Flynn as customers for the firearms.

Examination of a handset seized from Haydn Nurden evidenced him sending a text message to Flynn on the day in question, asking him to bring the '5500 x 2' when he was ready.

Police suggested to the court that £5,500 would be a reasonable price for each firearm.

As well as this, Budak had programmed an app in his phone to take him to an address in Dagenham, which was linked to the Nurden family.

On September 18 2020, Budak and Ekinci were charged with firearms offences and remanded in custody.

Shortly after, on 13 October 2020, Haydn Nurden was arrested and subsequently charged with conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life or enable another to do so.

On December 15 2020, Flynn was charged with conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life or enable another to do so and remanded in custody.

Blaine Nurden was charged on March 16 2021 with conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life or enable another to do so.

Ahmet Budak, of Balcorne Street, Hackney was sentenced to seven years and nine months’ imprisonment for possession of firearms.

Hayden Nurden, of Shafter Road, Dagenham was sentenced to 11 years and three months’ imprisonment for possession of firearms with intent to endanger life.

Blaine Nurden, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 12 years and three months’ imprisonment for possession of firearms with intent to endanger life.

Hasan Ekinci, of King Edward Road, Hackney pleaded guilty to possession of firearms with intent to endanger life/cause another to do so in relation to this case on 11 June 2021.

He will be sentenced at a later date.

Detective Inspector Lewis Sanderson, from the Met's Specialist Crime Team, said: "The criminal use of firearms has the most tragic consequences on our communities.

"The work of detectives in taking these lethal weapons off our streets is vital and there is no doubt in my mind this has prevented serious violent crime.

"This investigation demonstrates our commitment to holding those involved in the distribution of these weapons to account. I hope these convictions send a strong message to those involved, we will seek you out and bring you to justice.

“The Met is committed to tackling and reducing violent crime. Part of this involves relying on our communities to come forward with any information they have about anyone who may be carrying a weapon.”

Please contact police immediately on 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. You could be saving a life.

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