Jury convicts south London rapper, Loski, of possessing a loaded firearm

A 23-year-old rapper has been convicted of firearm offences after he was found in possession of a loaded revolver.

Jyrelle O'Connor, also known as 'Loski', was travelling in an Uber under a false name on 9 April 2019 when unarmed officers stopped the vehicle near Savoy Circus on the A40.

During a search of the car, a small black sock was found underneath the front passenger seat, in front of where O'Connor had been sitting, inside of which was a loaded revolver.

O'Connor was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and the following day additionally charged with possessing a firearm when prohibited for five years; possessing ammunition for a firearm when prohibited for five years; possessing a firearm; and possessing a controlled drug of class B (cannabis).

Forensic analysis of the revolver confirmed it to be a 4mm Flobert Calibre Revolver with loaded live ammunition. O'Connor's DNA was found on the loading face of the cylinder, a covered part of the firearm that is not accessible without opening the gun to see the ammunition.

Born in Kennington, O'Connor is considered a pioneer of the UK drill music scene, having signed with Sony Music Entertainment and as Loski, released his debut single in 2016, aged just 17.

At trial the judge and jury heard that the young rapper was a prominent and high profile member of a South London gang involved in ongoing violent disputes with rival gangs in Brixton.

O'Connor denied the charges against him and claimed he was forced to possess the gun after a drug dealer made threats against his life, and his mother's. The jury unanimously dismissed this defence and found him guilty of possessing a prohibited firearm, possessing a firearm when prohibited for five years and possessing ammunition for a firearm when prohibited for five years.

The guilty verdicts today (January 4) end a three-year investigation led by Detective Constable Andy Snazell from the Met's Specialist Crime Command.

On conclusion of the trial, DC Snazell said: "This has been a trying and challenging case with many twists and turns, but I'm pleased the jury found O'Connor guilty of his crimes and I'd like to thank them for seeing through his lies and excuses.

"I have no doubt that O'Connor, or his gang associates, would have used this revolver in the future and by finding and destroying it we have taken a lethal weapon off the streets and potentially saved a life.

"As part of the trial the jury heard how fascinated O'Connor was by guns and gang lifestyle and on his phone he had been running numerous Google searches for firearms and ammunition in the months prior to his arrest.

"O'Connor was an influential individual and had many followers on social media. No amount of fortune or fame justifies his serious criminal actions and I'm confident this will be reflected in the sentence that will be handed down by the Judge."

Jyrelle O'Connor is due to be sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on Friday, 6 January.