MEMBERS of a gang which stole a haul of guns and sold them into the criminal underworld have been jailed for a total of 33 years.

Nine defendants from Southend and Thurrock were jailed yesterday at Basildon Crown Court for their parts in the theft and sale of dozens of shotguns and rifles from a lorry in Basildon’s Burnt Mills Industrial Estate.

The gang stole the 77 weapons on April 18 and hid them in Grays, where they were sold on to a Southend “criminal kingpin”, who passed them to criminals across the country.

The raid also led to a police chase across Southend, and the discovery of more than £50,000 of cannabis.

One of the 77 guns was used in an East London shooting and it is feared many more could be in the hands of hardened criminals.

Sentencing the men, Judge John Lodge said: “On November 9, in a gang-related incident in East London a sawn-off shotgun was discharged twice.

“That gun was recovered soon afterwards and examination revealed it had been part of a large haul of guns stolen in Basildon in the early hours of April 18.”

The court heard “professional thieves” Daniel Harris, 33, of Godman Road, Chadwell St Mary, Ashley Henry, 27, of no fixed address, Ryan Heapy, 24, of Hobart Road, Tilbury and Matthew Wells, 28, of Godman Road, Chadwell St Mary, took the guns from a lorry, parked Swinbourne Road, Basildon.

They had been looking, not specifically for guns, but for any kind of “easy pickings”.

They were shocked to open the first crate they came to and find it full of guns.

The court heard their initial shock turned to a “determined enterprise”, as they made six trips from the lorry to hiding place, while Ashley Henry was on the phone to Marcus Ireson, 29, of Highfield Gardens, Grays, trying to organise a buyer.

They were stored at Harris’s flat in Poole House, Grays, which would act as the “shop”, as Ireson brought Eric Rudanec, 52, of Southchurch Avenue, Southend, to inspect the guns.

After agreeing the sale, Rudanec brought in henchmen Mark Box, 30, of no fixed address, Kenneth Slade, 35, of Ferndown Close, Southend, Jason Balding, 33, of Nicholson Crescent and Adam Balding, 31, of Grosvenor Road, Westcliff – described in court as “a procession” of gun-smugglers.

They carried the weapons off in several cars to be transported to Southend, most likely to be stored in a house in Beresford Road, the court heard.

Judge Lodge added: “Some 53 rifles and 24 shotguns were taken. One rifle and 12 shotguns are still outstanding.

“Each of these weapons is capable of being used for the purpose of very serious crime indeed.

“That’s why lengthy sentences must follow to punish those who took the chance to have come across weapons, putting those guns into circulation and causing problems in society.”

GUILTY MEN SENTENCED LAST WEEK

ASHLEY HENRY: Admitted stealing the guns and possessing shotguns and rifles without a certificate – four years in prison

DANIEL HARRIS: Admitted stealing the guns and possessing shotguns and rifles without a certificate – three years and four months in prison

RYAN HEAPY: Admitted stealing the guns and possessing shotguns and rifles without a certificate – three years and four months in prison

MARCUS IRESON: Admitted conspiracy to handle stolen firearms and possessing shotguns and rifles without a certificate – four-and-a-half years in prison

JASON BALDING: Admitted handling stolen firearms and possessing shotguns and rifles without a certificate – two years in prison

MARK BOX: Admitted handling stolen firearms, possessing them without a certificate, dangerous driving and possessing cannabis with intent to supply – four years in prison and disqualified from driving for three years

ERIC RUDANEC: Admitted handling stolen firearms and possessing them without a certificate – eight years in prison

KENNETH SLADE: Admitted handling stolen firearms, possessing them without a certificate and producing cannabis between August 2013 and May 13, 2014 – four years in prison

ADAM BALDING: Admitted conspiracy to handle stolen firearms and possessing cannabis with intent to supply – one year in prison

MATTHEW WELLS: To be sentenced at a later date as his solicitor did not turn up