Lambeth dad kept guns in his children's underwear draw with Class A drugs

A man has been jailed after keeping guns, including a sawn of shotgun, in his children's underwear drawer and wardrobe. There were also Class A and B drugs in the family home in Lambeth.

Danny Butler, 44, was last year sentenced to 18 years in prison after the firearms were discovered by Metropolitan Police officers. He lived in the property with his wife and three children – including an 18-month-old.

Police found six guns, ammunition and drugs in multiple locations. These included the children’s underwear drawer and their parents’ wardrobe.

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Three handguns, one of which was loaded, were among the weapons discovered in his children’s clothes drawer. Another handgun and pump action sawn-off shotgun were found in the wardrobe.

There was also a 'large amount' of ammunition. A second sawn off shotgun was found in the coat cupboard.

Further searches by officers found Class B drugs lying on the floor of the living room. These were easily accessible to the couple’s three daughters, including their toddler.

Class A drugs were also being kept inside the TV unit and coat cupboard. Officers says they alerted Lambeth social services immediately due to the safeguarding risk presenting the children.

'We will find you, we'll bring you to justice, we'll convict you and we'll imprison you'

It comes as gun crime in London increased by nearly 20 per cent in 2023. But leading Met officers insisted at a media briefing at New Scotland Yard on Wednesday, June 12, that 'serious' incidents are down.

But Commander Paul Brogden told media that the force is 'not complacent' and is 'doubling its efforts' to tackle a 'vicious cycle of violence' in the city. He added that guns are most often by gangs to peddle drugs, enforce debt and control territories.

Last year, 386 firearms were seized in the city by officers, including Scorpion sub-machine guns. But Commander Brogden added the the Met would keep up the pressure on criminals.

He then said he had a simple message' for those planning to acquire or use guns in London: "The Met will find you, we'll bring you to justice, we'll convict you and we'll imprison you."

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