A LEIGH teenager hid a gun and bullets in a children’s playground after a man was murdered.

Harrison Woods is one of three teenagers who hid a loaded revolver and sawn-off shotgun after the murder of John Pordage in Chelmsford on August 5, 2017.

The guns hidden at the park were not directly linked to the death.

However, they had been hidden on behalf of Saul Stanley, who was present at the shooting and convicted of firearms offences relating to the guns recovered.

Woods, of Darlinghurst Grove, Leigh, was jailed for 19 months yesterday at Chelmsford Crown Court after admitting two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon, two counts of possession of prohibited ammunition, and perverting the course of justice.

Senior investigating officer Det Chief Insp Martin Pasmore said: “The consequences to this behaviour do not exist in a vacuum – they impact you, your friends, your family, and other families whose lives have been changed forever by the people involved in these offences.

“In this case, these weapons would have easily been discovered by children in a play park, and we could have been here telling a very different story.

“My thoughts are with the family and friends of John Pordage today. Although the guns found were not linked directly to John’s murder, the presence of Saul Stanley means that John’s name has continued to be used in courtrooms.”

The guns were hidden, alongside drugs paraphernalia and shotgun cartridges in a park near Stanley Rise, Chelmsford.

Robert Ketley, 24, of no fixed address, admitted the same charges and was jailed for five years.

Reece Williams, 20, of Brookmans Road, Stock, was jailed for two years and three months for the same charges, minus perverting the course of justice.

Bradley Blundell, 20, of Cromwell Close, Boreham, was jailed for life for John’s murder and must serve a minimum of 22 years.

Ella Colgate, 19, of Aldridge Close, Chelmsford, was jailed for 12 months for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.