A WOMAN found in possession of a loaded gun and ammunition at her Harlow home has been jailed.

Sherrie Walters, 42, is now serving 30 months behind bars after she was found guilty of possessing a firearm and ammunition without a certificate.

During a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, jurors were told how officers were called to Walters’ home in Orchard Croft, on 27 December 2021 following reports she had been seen with a firearm in her bag.

Walters had been at a party in North London and claimed she had been given the gun to look after. She refused to tell officers who had asked her to take care of the weapon.

Following a search of her home officers found a revolver and two bullets.

Walters was arrested, charged and denied possessing the gun and ammunition but jurors found her guilty. She was jailed for 30 months on 9 January following an investigation carried out by Harlow CID.

Following the case Det Insp Karen Knibbs said: “There is absolutely no place for firearms on the streets of Essex.

“I’m pleased, that thanks to the work of our detectives, this weapon and the person in possession of it have been removed from our streets.

“If someone asks you to look after a weapon for them, don’t do it, because if you are found with it, it will be you that ends up behind bars as Walters found out at the cost of her liberty.

“What’s more, when people are in possession of weapons – whether that’s guns, knives, other bladed articles – not only do you risk being sent to prison, but you risk being hurt, hurting someone else, or worse. It’s simply not worth it.

“We hope this sends a clear message to our communities that where we have intelligence or information that people possess firearms illegally, we will act swiftly.”