Hackney teenager amongst three jailed for gun possession

Helal Miah (left) was sentenced to three years in prison, whilst Tyrell Goather (centre) was sentenced to five years. Philip Johnson (right) was given a 12-month youth rehabilitation order. Photographs: Metropolitan Police

Just a week after Top Boy, a TV crime drama about a gang in Hackney, was aired on Channel 4, a man and two teenagers from Hackney have today (Friday 11 November) been jailed for possession of a Sterling 9mm sub-machine gun.

Tyrell Goather, 21, of Thomas’s Place, E9, was sentenced to five years in prison for possession of a Section 5 firearm and two years for Section 1 ammunition.

Helal Miah, 17, of Clarence Road, E5 was sentenced to three years in prison for possession of a Section 5 firearm and one year for Section 1 ammunition.

Philip Johnson, 18, of Templemead House, E9, was sentenced to a 12 month youth rehabilitation order for possession of Section 1 ammunition.

The court was told that on Wednesday 6 April, two Hackney police officers were on patrol in Bodney Road when they saw a group of around ten people at the rear of Marden House, Pembury Estate, an area known to be frequented by a gang known as the Pembury Boys.

The group split up as the police approached, but two were recognised, from the officers’ previous dealings, as Goather and Miah.

The recovered Sterling 9mm Parabellum sub-machine gun. Photograph: Metropolitan Police

After searching the immediate area the police officers found a fully working Sterling 9mm Parabellum sub-machine gun hidden in nearby bushes and four live rounds of compatible 9mm ammunition. They also found a balaclava and a knife.

Following an investigation, Hackney Police’s Operation Bantam Gun and Drug unit were able to link the gun and ammunition to Goather, Johnson and Miah.

All three suspects were arrested following the simultaneous searching of their homes by the police on Friday 15 April.

Analysis of mobile phone handsets and SIM cards seized during the searches of the address showed links between the defendants and also placed them in the vicinity of the scene at the time.

Phillip Johnson, who had initially contested the charges, pleaded guilty to all of them at Snaresbrook Crown Court, on Friday 9 September.

Following a week-long trial, Tyrell Goather and Helal Miah were found guilty on Friday 30 September.

Detective Inspector Rhys Willis the head of Operation Bantam said: “This is an excellent example of the Gangs Unit recognising and dealing with gang members.

“The investigating detectives from Bantam, Hackney’s gun crime team, identified how time critical forensics could be, and with the assistance of the Met’s Forensic Unit expedited the examination of the weapons.

“The use of bad character evidence and phone data proved crucial at the subsequent trial. Working together with Hackney Council, we are committed to continue our sustained results to convict criminal gang members in Hackney and remove these men of violence from our streets.”

Related: Top Boy – review