A teenage girl has been jailed for three years after police found a sawn-off shotgun hidden under her bed.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced on February 25 after being found guilty of possessing a prohibited weapon.

Police found the weapon at the girl’s South Croydon home during a raid by the Metropolitan Police’s Trident team, which investigates gun crime in London's black community.

She was not at home during the search, but police managed to track her down to another address in south London and charge her.

Detective Constable Kenneth Dunn from Trident, said: “The prison term given to this girl should act as a deterrent to others who choose to be involved in the possession of firearms throughout London.

“The success of this case and similar cases being undertaken by Trident continues to show the dedication and commitment of officers to target dangerous individuals and those who choose to assist them in the storage and safe keeping of firearms.”