The circumstances that led to a Kingston teenager holding a handgun to an officer’s head and then firing at police can now be revealed.

Brian Mudziwepasi, 20, originally of Charter Road, Kingston, pleaded guilty last November of having a gun and intending to endanger life, and possession of a prohibited weapon.

The background to the shooting can now be revealed. He was associated with a gang dealing heroin and crack cocaine out of the Phipps Bridge estate in Mitcham.

Darren McLarty, 21, of Wessex Close, Norbiton, will be sentenced later this month after he was found guilty at Kingston Crown Court this week of being part of a gang of 16 from Mitcham, Sutton and Morden and conspiring to sell drugs.

The London crime squad and Merton police began investigating the ring in February last year.

Mudziwepasi was jailed for 11 years last November for firing a handgun at police outside the drug den in Mitcham.

Detective Chief Inspector Lee Hill, of the Metropolitan Police’s London crime squad, said: “This has been an intensive and protracted investigation and I would like to thank everyone involved.

“The sentences imposed by the court reflect the seriousness of the criminality involved and should act as deterrent to others.”

A total of 16 defendants were convicted, eleven from Merton, and sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on June 6, while McLarty will be sentenced on June 27.

Following a 15 month covert operation police began their operation swooped on the 17-strong gang in a series of raids in May recovering guns hidden in socks, drugs, stolen cash, a knife and ammunition.

The dealers operated in groups and alone - dealing crack and heroin in and around Phipps Bridge estate, in Mitcham - making up to £1,000 a day.

Hamiel Rozetta, 20, of Morden Road in Mitcham, was jailed for nine-and-a-half years after pleading guilty of conspiracy to supply and possession with intent to supply cannabis.

He was also found guilty for possessing firearms and ammunition - and given a three-year ASBO banning him from the Phipps Bridge estate and from contacting other defendants in public.

Rozetta’s girlfriend Charley Smeale, 19, of Belgrave Walk in Mitcham, was sentenced to two years detention and one years detention - to run concurrently and suspended for 18 months for possesion of firearms and a controlled drug.

Ashley Berry, 23, of Brangwyn Crescent in Wimbledon, was jailed for three years and seven months after pleading guilty to various drug offences as well as a breach of a suspended sentence.

Michael Mensah, 29, of Bordesley Road, Morden, was jailed for three years and four months after pleading guilty to various drug offences.

Ali Diarrassouba, 23, of Phipps Bridge Road, Mitcham, was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to supplying a controlled drug.

Haisam Aly, 19, of Bradshaw Close in Wimbledon, was jailed for four years plus six months detention after pleading guilty to a drug offence, two counts of street robbery, an affray and handling stolen goods.

Tyrone Knight, 19, of Boundary Road in Wimbledon, was jailed for 19 months at a young offender’s institution, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work and a curfew was imposed.

Gerald Kato, 22, of Phipps Bridge Road in Mitcham, was jailed for 20 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply a Class A drug.

Two unnamed 18-year-old men from Merton were both sentenced to two-year community orders for drug offences - and one was also given 100 hours of unpaid work.

Brian Mudziwepasi, 20 is already serving an 11 year sentence for firing a handgun towards police officers in Morden in February last year.

Merton’s borough commander, Chief Superintendent Darren Williams, said: "Back in February 2012, we set out to deal with a group of criminals who thought it as OK to deal drugs on an estate in Merton.

"With help from our colleagues from the London Crime Squad we took on the dealers in an area where they thought they were above the law.

"No criminal will ever be above the law."