An illegal armourer has been jailed for nine years and four months after stashing two handguns and hundreds of bullets in a Crawley lock-up.

Thomas Keatley, 28, also had gun-making equipment and a large quantity of cannabis in a garage linked to him in Springfield Court, Crawley.

Keatley was sentenced to five years for one count of possession of a prohibited weapon, an antique Forehand & Wadsworth double action .38 gate loading revolver and one count of attempting to manufacture a prohibited weapon, an improvised single shot pistol, one count of manufacturing ammunition and one count of possession of class B drugs with intent to supply, herbal cannabis.

Keatley, of Southgate, Crawley, pleaded guilty to the offences on July 28 and was sentenced on Monday at Maidstone Crown Court.

On June 7 this year at 9pm Met Police specialist firearms officers and Kent Police stopped a vehicle driven by Keatley in Dartford, Kent.

When stopped Keatley said to officers: "I know why you're here. It's in the glove box."

Officers pulled from the glove box the Forehand & Wadsworth revolver, manufactured between 1871 and 1890.

On Monday, June 10, officers from Trident and Sussex Police searched a garage in Springfield Court.

During the search of the garage a partially homemade firearm, a substantial quantity of ammunition and items connected with the manufacturing of firearms were seized including an improvised brass-barrel, single-shot pistol with a 'blueprint' on how to make the firearm with diagram and written instructions, 153 unfired bullet cartridges, 192 bullets, 180 bullet cartridges and 285 bullet cartridge cases.

Equipment used in the manufacturing of home-made ammunition including one reloading press with three complete sets of reloading dies, powder measures and shell holders suitable for the assembly of an assortment of calibre cartridges, one .32 inch calibre bullet mould and one .38 inch calibre bullet mould were also found.

Other items seized included one pistol magazine, one rifle charger clip, four dummy cartridges, two bottles of smokeless propellant for loading into shotgun and handgun cartridges, bullet lubricant and assorted gun care products.

A USB memory stick was recovered hidden in a block of wood with a metal plate on top of it.

The memory stick contained 18 internet manuals on how to make both handguns and automatic machine guns along with manuals on how to reload both handgun and shotgun ammunition.

Bank account enquiries showed Keatley had purchased the majority of the firearms items recovered from the garage online in 2012 from stores in both America and the UK.

Detective Inspector Paul Dorey from the Met Police said: "The seizure of the firearms, gun-making equipment and bullet cartridges has without doubt prevented lethal weaponry entering the hands of criminal networks operating in London and the Home Counties.

"On arrest, Keatley looked to hide behind firearm legislation to prevent prosecution. He stated he had purchased the antique revolver from a registered firearm dealer in Kent and as such, it was not a prohibited firearm.

"However when the weight of evidence was compiled against him he had no choice but to change his stance and admit to all firearm charges.”

Chief Superintendent Paul Morrison from Sussex Police added: "This was a significant seizure which can only make the streets of the country safer.”