Man jailed over tiny gun shooting

Marcus Henry carried out the attack after a row over a woman

A man has been jailed for nine years for shooting a fellow clubber with a mini four-inch key-ring gun.

Yaw Darko-Kwakye was shot in the shoulder after a row over his girlfriend in the Departures nightclub in the City of London in December 2007.

Marcus Henry, 27, from Clapham, south London, was found guilty of unlawful wounding and two firearms offences.

Police believe it is the first example of the potentially fatal weapons being used, the Old Bailey heard.

'Severe sentence'

Detectives said they believed about 100 of the Bulgarian-made guns, that fit easily in the palm of the hand, were currently in circulation.

A consignment of the weapons, designed to be used as flare guns, were brought into the UK a few years ago, and some have been converted to use live rounds, police said.

The guns are cocked by pulling part of the key-ring and have buttons on the side to fire them and to open them for reloading.

Police believe they pose more of a threat than normal guns, as they can easily be concealed, and are trying to recover as many as possible.

Police believe about 100 of the guns are in circulation

Mr Darko-Kwakye was shot in the shoulder at close range and police said he was lucky to survive.

Det Sgt Dave Carter said: "It is not particularly accurate but from a short distance it can be fatal."

Judge Christopher Moss told Marcus that the offence of bringing a loaded firearm into a public place and using it should meet with a "severe prison sentence".

The gun used by Henry was found hidden in a sock with traces of his blood on it during a police search of a house.

Investigating officer Supt Colin Cowan said: "Although officers are aware that this type of gun is in circulation, not many have come across one before.

"It is only four inches long, could easily pass for a key fob and can fit in the palm of the hand."