A man caught hiding a loaded gun in his Southall bedroom has been given five years in prison.

Aaron Kelly, 27, of Beaconsfield Road, received the sentence after police raided his home, initially looking for drugs.

Prosecutor Geoffrey Gelbart told Isleworth Crown Court on Monday that officers discovered a black revolver wrapped in newspaper.

The weapon had six live rounds in the chamber, and police discovered a further five live rounds.

Mr Gelbart said: "Only the defendant's younger brother James was present and, when asked, indicated the upper front bedroom as being occupied by the defendant. Police found a black revolver wrapped in some newspaper.

Kelly was summoned by a call to his mobile phone and, after initial denials, told police he was minding the gun for others.

He said: "I can't tell you who. If I do tell you, everyone in this house is dead."

Mr Gelbart said officers noted Kelly was visibly shaking and obviously under pressure. He made no comment to questions and refused to say whose firearm it was, saying it was not worth the risk and that he was prepared to take the blame.

Dennis Kavanagh, representing Kelly, said: "He is very conscious of the fact that he has made the biggest mistake of his life. It will massively affect him and his family.

"He became acquainted with a group of people for whom he warehoused these items. He is not a gun-toting criminal who habitually carries these items.

"He has become trapped in a situation where he has made a very poor choice. He is somebody who wants to do something with his life".

Judge Richard McGregor-Johnson, jailing him for the minimum five year term for firearms possession, said: "You have pleaded guilty to having a loaded revolver. The courts are bound to regard such offences extremely seriously.

"A loaded gun like this has really only one purpose and that is to commit crime, and serious crime at that.

"People who possess such guns face a minimum custodial sentence because of the gravity of gun offences generally, and because of the harm guns do".

Kelly admitted charges of possessing a revolver and ammunition at his home on October 11 last year.