A 14-year-old boy, the youngest ever person to be arrested by the Met for possessing a gun, has pleaded guilty to firearm charges.

The New Cross teenager, who cannot be named for legal reason, admitted possession of a firearm, silencer and ammunition at Inner London Crown Court on Wednesday (November 19).

He was arrested on August 12, aged just 13, after officers searched his family home during an investigation into gang activity.

Despite denials by the boy and his mother that there were weapons or drugs in the house, a machete was found in the his bedroom wardrobe.

A Baikal automatic pistol with magazine was then found in the basement of the house inside a rucksack, along with two metal silencers.

Also found was a sock containing ammunition and a barrel brush, hidden in the loft above the boy's bedroom.

The boy told police during interview that he had been storing the gun for an older gang member since mid-July.

The boy told police he had asked the gun’s owner to take it back and later admitted to being a gang member, saying the machete was in his room for protection.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Beyer said afterwards: "This is an extremely sad and deeply concerning case, no matter what the outcome had been.

“We are committed to targeting anyone thought to be in possession of firearms. However, not one of my officers wants to come across a child in possession of a live gun.”

The boy will be sentenced on January 30.