A LOADED sub-machine gun and a pistol were found by police when they raided the home of a suspected drug dealer.

The black Uzi was found wrapped in a carrier bag in a bedroom wardrobe. 

Officers, who had been acting on a tip-off, then found a loaded .45 Colt pistol and 10 rounds of ammunition stuffed in a sock hidden in a red pillowcase.

Karl France, 26, of Saxbrook Walk, Peel Hall, Wythenshawe, was jailed for five years at Manchester Crown Court after pleading guilty to possessing guns and ammunition.

Police say they may have prevented a bloodbath.

There was also a gun cleaning kit in a nylon zip-up bag with lubricating oil, a screwdriver and brushes.

Christopher Beckwith, prosecuting, said: "Both weapons were found to have rounds inside them meaning they could have been discharged."

There was a bullet hole in a window, suggesting the property had been fired at, but France, formerly a chef at Manchester Airport, made no comment when he was interviewed.

Richard Littler, defending, told the court his client had sunk into depression, addiction to cocaine and lost his job after he was put in intensive care following a stabbing attack.

France had been keeping the guns on behalf of his increasingly intimidating and violent drug dealer, Mr Littler said.

Jailing France, Judge Clement Goldstone QC said the he had to take responsibility for the 'arsenal' of guns and ammunition, adding: "You are by no means the first and I'm sure you won't be the last young man to come before these courts and say you were imposed upon by those older and more powerful than you to look after their lethal weapons.

"It's only by the imposition of long periods of imprisonment that people like you will understand you have to say no.

After the hearing, police said they may have prevented a bloodbath.

Det Sgt Lee Price said: "France had a small arsenal of guns and ammunition stashed away in his house, and later admitted he was storing these for someone else.

"Whom he was storing them for and for what purpose, he has never said. But what is fact is that these guns were ready to fire and if they had been discharged on our streets, someone could have been seriously injured or killed.

"I am very pleased to see France behind bars and these deadly weapons taken off our streets. Through Operation Xcalibre (the police anti gun and gang campaign) and a lot of hard work by divisional officers, Greater Manchester Police is working very hard to get these guns off the streets and the fact that the number of shootings has dropped dramatically shows we are getting results.

"This raid was intelligence-led so I hope it reassures the public that if they do work with police and come forward with information, we can work together to put the bad guys away."