A MAN who stashed £9,000 in stolen cash and a pistol behind a toilet in his Edmonton flat has been jailed for five years.

Jonathan Lisumbu, 18, of Parr Close, Edmonton, was jailed for handling stolen goods and firearm offences at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday.

Lisumbu was part of a gang of four who broke into a house in Brettenham Road, Edmonton on August 24 last year, stealing over £9,000 in cash and gold chain. The group were caught after neighbours who saw the break-in then followed them to Lisumbu’s home in Parr Close, Edmonton.

Lisumbu, along with Marvin Senyange Ssenyonjo, 18, Kevin Campbell, 19, and a 17-year-old who can’t be named for legal reasons, were then arrested on suspicion of burglary.

A police search of Lisumbu’s flat showed the cash and jewellery hidden in a partition behind the toilet cistern.

Lisumbu was also charged with firearm offences after police seized a replica pistol which had been converted into a working firearm. The gun had been loaded with three bullets, formerly blanks but which had been converted into live ammunition, police said.

A forensic examination carried out on the gun showed that it had been fired.

Lisumbu pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods with the three defendants on January 28.

On February 11, in a separate trial, he was found guilty of possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition without a firearms certificate.

He was sentenced to five years for possession of a firearm, two years for possession of ammunition without a firearms certificate and six months for handling stolen goods to be served concurrently on Friday.

The 17-year-old received a 12 month supervision order and 60 hours community service after pleading guilty to burglary.

Marvin Senyange Ssenyonjo, 19, of Wellstead Avenue, Edmonton was ordered to pay a £500 fine and serve a community order after pleading guilty to handling stolen goods.

A third man, Kevin Campbell, 19, of Ling Road, Canning Town, who also pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods, had his sentence adjourned to March 19.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Paul Allgood, of Enfield’s Burglary and Robbery Squad, said: "My thanks and gratitude to the members of the public who came forward and provided us with the information that led to us arresting these suspects. There information was instrumental in us capturing these audacious individuals and finding the firearm which Lisumbu tried to conceal from police. For us to continue to drive down burglary and ensure the safety of the people of Enfield we will need members of the public to continue to come forward and provide us with information.”