So Solid Crew member 'dumped loaded gun'

A member of the chart-topping collective So Solid Crew dumped a loaded pistol in an alleyway as he fled from police, a court heard yesterday.

Officers later foundillegal ammunition designed to go through several people at the home of the suspect, Jason Joab Phillips, known as G-Man to his fans.

Shortly before Mr Phillips was chased and arrested he had been seen talking to another member of the band at the scene of a suspected drug deal in November last year in central London, the jury at Southwark Crown Court in London was told. But after officers went to investigate, the 24-year-old "ran off".

Benjamin Aina, for the prosecution, said that he was carrying a Brocock ME9 pistol containing seven rounds, which was found a few minutes later on some rubbish sacks.

Mr Aina said the defendant had been watched by police on closed-circuit television with fellow band member Shane Neil at a spot used by drug dealers near the Hippodrome club in the West End. The court later heard the gun had been designed to shoot airgun pellets, but had been modified to fire cartridges.

Mr Phillips denies one count of possessing a prohibited weapon, one of possessing prohibited ammunition and two of possessing ammunition without a firearms certificate.

The trial continues.