A firearms dealer who was caught supplying guns and ammunition after he had been released from jail has been sentenced to life in prison.

Lennie St Clare Walters, 47, who is homeless, was caught after officers witnessed him making deliveries to associates in Leyton and West Ham.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard how on June 21 2017, Walters was seen delivering a handgun and 15 rounds of ammunition to a taxi in Erskine Road, Walthamstow.

After following the taxi to Orient Way, Leyton, police arrested a 26-year-old man in the front seat, who was in possession of the gun and ammunition.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Police caught Walters delivering this gun

The man was later sentenced to five years imprisonment after pleading guilty.

Just three months later, on September 7, police spotted Walters arriving at a property in West Ham to meet with an associate before leaving shortly afterwards.

Armed officers stormed the address where they found a bag in the kitchen containing a handgun and 58 rounds of ammunition.

They arrested the associate, who was later convicted and sentenced to 30 months' imprisonment.

Using forensic evidence and mobile phone analysis, officers were able to link Walters to the respective offences in both June and September.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Walters made deliveries of guns and ammunition to associates in east London

On February 7 2018, he was arrested and charged and remanded in custody.

During the nine-day trial, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard that Walters had previously been convicted of supplying firearms, including a Mac10 machine gun, in 2010.

He was sentenced to ten years imprisonment but released on licence in 2015, committing the new offences within that period.

Walters pleaded guilty to supplying both associates with firearms and ammunition, but denied any intention to endanger life.

He was found guilty by unanimous verdict of intending to endanger life during the respective offences in June and September.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Walters made deliveries of guns and ammunition to associates in east London

On Friday September 7 he was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of seven years and six months.

Detective Constable Gareth Starr, from the Met’s Trident and Area Crime Command, said: “Taking these men and weapons off the street will no doubt have saved lives down the line.

“The fact that Walters and his two associates all pleaded guilty, shows they knew from day one that what they were doing was wrong and more importantly, illegal.”

The sentencing judge, HHJ P Southern, commended DC Starr for his professionalism, both during the course of the investigation and in the preparation and presentation of the case before the jury.