A man has been sentenced to five years and three months imprisonment for multiple firearms offences.

Andreas Antoniades, 29, of Marsh Wall, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to acquire a firearm and conspiracy to acquire ammunition on May 18.

He pleaded guilty along with two other men, Stephen Panagi, 57, of no fixed address and Daniel Sharpe, 45, of Beckton Gardens, Manchester.

Both Panagi and Sharpe pleaded guilty to selling/transferring a firearm as well as ammunition and possession of cannabis earlier this year.

Sharpe was also convicted of money laundering.

A fourth person, Daniella Forde, 30, of Ardern Road, Manchester, failed to appear at court for sentencing and a warrant has been issued for her arrest. She pleaded guilty on April 16 to both possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition.

East London Advertiser: A forensics examination of the weapon dropped by Panagi revealed it to be a converted 9mm PAK calibre, former blank-firing pistol.A forensics examination of the weapon dropped by Panagi revealed it to be a converted 9mm PAK calibre, former blank-firing pistol. (Image: Metropolitan Police)


On November 19 2020, officers observed Forde and Sharpe in a blue BMW. The car entered Gerrards Close and stopped near some garages.

Panagi, who was driving a Toyota Prius, parked next to the BMW and after the vehicles were together for less than a minute, he left.

Officers stopped Panagi's car on John Bradshaw Road and as they approached, he got out and dropped a zip-bag and black box.

East London Advertiser: Stephen Panagi, 57, of no fixed address.Stephen Panagi, 57, of no fixed address. (Image: Metropolitan Police)

The box was found to contain a loaded firearm along with 22 bullets.

All three suspects were arrested and taken to a north London police station.

Call data showed no communication between the gun suppliers and customer, and since the suppliers had travelled from Manchester to London, officers believed that a third party was involved to facilitate the transaction.

Enquiries identified Andreas Antoniades as the facilitator.

East London Advertiser: Daniel Sharpe, 45, of Beckton Gardens, Manchester.Daniel Sharpe, 45, of Beckton Gardens, Manchester. (Image: Metropolitan Police)

Phone data proved that Antoniades was in contact with both parties prior, during and post transaction between Sharpe and Panagi.

Antoniades was arrested for conspiracy to acquire a firearm and conspiracy to acquire ammunition on April 19, 2021.

Antoniades, Panagi and Sharpe were sentenced on June 10 at Wood Green Crown Court.

East London Advertiser: More than 20 bullets were found by police as well as a gun.More than 20 bullets were found by police as well as a gun. (Image: Metropolitan Police)

Det Insp Glenn Butler, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “Each of the 22 bullets seized could have gone on to cause serious injury, or even death, if we had not seized them.

“Firearms have no place in London."

Anyone with knowledge of Danielle Forde's whereabouts should call police on 999.

East London Advertiser: Daniella Forde, 30, of Ardern Road, Manchester.Daniella Forde, 30, of Ardern Road, Manchester. (Image: Metropolitan Police)