Southwark man who helped friend unjam gun jailed for almost ten years

A man who gave advice to his friend on how to stop a gun from jamming has been jailed.

Danny Harle, 26, of Gandolfi Street, Camberwell, appeared at the Old Bailey on Monday, February 21.

He was sentenced to nine years and nine months’ imprisonment for possession of a firearm with intent to enable another to endanger life.

Detectives identified Harle as a person of interest following a shooting in Herne Hill in September 2000. As part of their investigation, they carried out covert recordings.

On the afternoon of October 10, 2020, Harle was visited by someone who had a firearm that kept jamming. They wanted Harle to help.

Harle gave them advice about the need for the ‘correct ammunition’.

There was a further recording later the same day which proved that Harle met with the person for a second time. It was clear from the recordings that Harle was manipulating the gun and succeeded in unjamming it.

He also gave the person ‘maintenance’ advice that would allow the gun to fire successfully, telling them to grease the gun ‘every time you go out there’.

Detective Constable Mick Grimshaw, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “Throughout this investigation my team found that Harle put others in danger in order to further his illegal enterprise.

“There can be no doubt that Harle is a man with little regard for the safety of those around him. He was documented quite clearly ‘repairing’ an illegal firearm for another person and advising them on how to carry out future shootings.

“This man’s potential to not only harm others, but to school other criminals in committing other acts of violence, is untold.”

Detective Chief Inspector Daniel Smith, of the Central South Command Unit, said: “Lambeth is a safer borough because Harle was brought to justice.

“I hope that this demonstrates the Met’s commitment to pursuing dangerous individuals, gathering evidence against them and presenting robust cases before the courts so that they receive appropriate custodial sentences.”

Harle was found not guilty of two counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life in connection with an incident in Herne Hill on September 10, 2020.