A man who fired a gun to intimidate a former girlfriend outside a pub during New Year’s celebrations has been jailed for more than six years.

Cardell Thompson, 26, of Clifford Gardens, Kensal Rise, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday (May 24).

The court heard that Thompson turned up at a pub in Chamberlyne Road at around 9.30pm on December 31 2021.

Throughout the evening, he made attempts to speak to a former girlfriend who was not interested in engaging with him.

Thompson became more agitated as the evening progressed, and then shouted that he was going to get a gun and return to the venue.

At around 30 minutes into the new year, Thompson returned brandishing a handgun, shouting threats to his former girlfriend.

He fired the weapon into the air outside the pub and then attempted, but failed, to discharge it again.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Revolver Cardell Thompson, of Kensal Rise, fired to frighten a former girlfriendRevolver Cardell Thompson, of Kensal Rise, fired to frighten a former girlfriend (Image: Met)

Thompson then attempted to gain access to the pub but was pushed back by staff.

He then fled throwing the gun into a nearby garden.

Thompson returned a short time later by which time police had arrived and he was arrested.

The gun was recovered and Thompson’s DNA was found on it.

When Met officers searched his address they uncovered quantities of cocaine and ketamine, packaged for sale, along with a phone which provided further evidence of drug dealing.

Thompson was charged with firearms and drugs offences on January 2 2022.

He pleaded guilty on the first day of trial at Southwark Crown Court on November 14 2022 to possession of firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, possession of ammunition without certificate, possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply and assault on pub staff. 

He was jailed for six years and four months, with an extended licence period of three years and eight months.

Det Ch Insp Matt Webb, a Trident detective from the Met’s Specialist Crime, said: “It is only by good fortune that Cardell Thompson was unable to discharge this firearm more than once, preventing significant injury or worse from occurring.

“This sentencing reflects the dangerous nature of Thompson and the gravity of the offences he committed.

"The use of firearms in our communities cannot be tolerated, the harm caused by them can be untold and I’d appeal to Londoners to come forward with any information they have about the location of lethal firearms so we can remove these from our city."

He said if people were not comfortable speaking to police they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.