Key fob gunman is jailed

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The tiny but potentially fatal weapon, which can fire .22 bullets, is the latest threat on the streets.

Marcus Henry, 27, of Clapham, opened fire at Yaw Darko Kwakye after a row in the Departure Lounge club in the City last Christmas.

Mr Kwakye, 24, was not seriously injured and has made a good recovery.

After an argument broke out over Mr Kwakye's girlfriend, Henry took the gun from his trousers and opened fire before running out to a car. When police searched his home they found the gun hidden in a sock.

Henry was convicted earlier this month of unlawful wounding and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Police believe a batch of 100 key fob guns, made in Bulgaria to fire flares, have been converted and smuggled to Britain. Crown prosecutor Mark Heyward asked for Henry's weapon to be forfeited but not destroyed so it could be used for training purposes.

Today judge Christopher Moss told Henry: "You had in your possession in a public place a potentially lethal prohibited firearm.

"You fired it when confronted by a group of people, including the victim.

"To this day you continue to deny, in the teeth of the evidence, your guilt. These offences must attract severe prison sentences."

Outside court, Superintendent Colin Cowan, of the City of London police, said: "We were lucky the victim and the crowd were not more seriously hurt.

"Henry came carrying a weapon which could have caused fatal injuries."

The gun can be cocked by pulling the keyring on the back end and is fired by pushing a button on the side.

Mr Cowan added: "Officers have heard about these guns, but not many have come across one."

The gun measures 1in by 4in and can be potentially fatal over short distances.

However, because of its short barrel, it loses accuracy over even a slightly longer range.

Detective Sergeant Dave Carter said: "Arguably, they are potentially more dangerous than the average handgun because they look like something else and can be concealed very easily.

"We are keen to locate as many of them as we can and take them off the streets."