A man who was found asleep at the wheel with a loaded gun in his lap has been jailed for more than five years.

Nathan Gardier, 24, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court today (Tuesday, August 30), following an incident in Willow Walk, Walthamstow on August 5 this year.

Gardier, of Falmer Road, Walthamstow, was found with a member of the public with a gun on his lap after he fell asleep while driving intoxicated in slow moving traffic.

The brave passer-by took the keys from the ignition of the car and flagged down a passing police vehicle.

Two borough officers checked on Gardier. Whilst they were doing this, he woke up and the officers held his arms whilst removing the gun from the vehicle.

The gun, an automatic handgun, was later found to be live and loaded.

Gardier appeared the day after the incident at Thames Magistrates Court, where he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and drink driving.