Three men who helped hide guns and bullets in an Essex children’s playground in the aftermath of the murder of John Pordage have been jailed.

East Anglian Daily Times: The sawn-off shotgun that was found in the park in Stanley Rise, Chelmsford Picture: ESSEX POLICEThe sawn-off shotgun that was found in the park in Stanley Rise, Chelmsford Picture: ESSEX POLICE (Image: ESSEX POLICE)

Robert Ketley, Reece Williams and Harrison Woods hid the loaded revolver and sawn-off shotgun at the park near Stanley Rise, Chelmsford.

After they were arrested, Williams told officers where they were hidden, along with drugs paraphernalia and shotgun cartridges.

Mr Pordage, 34, was shot dead at a petrol station in Baddow Road, Chelmsford, by Bradley Blundell in the early hours of August 5, 2017.

In the hours after the murder Saul Stanley, who had been with Blundell when Mr Pordage was shot dead, arranged for the revolver, sawn-off shotgun and bullets to be removed from a house where he had been staying in Chelmsford. Neither of the guns in question were used to harm Mr Pordage.

East Anglian Daily Times: The pistol found in the children's play area near Stanley Rise Picture: ESSEX POLICEThe pistol found in the children's play area near Stanley Rise Picture: ESSEX POLICE (Image: ESSEX POLICE)

Ketley, Williams and Woods each admitted two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon and two counts of possession of prohibited ammunition.

Ketley and Woods also admitted perverting the course of justice.

At Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday Williams, 20, of Brookmans Road, Stock, was jailed for two years and three months.

Ketley, 24, of no fixed address, was jailed for five years.

East Anglian Daily Times: John Pordage. Picture: ESSEX POLICEJohn Pordage. Picture: ESSEX POLICE (Image: Archant)

Harrison Woods, 18, of Darlinghurst Grove, Leigh-on-Sea, was jailed for 19 months. He can now be identified after reporting restrictions were lifted.

The three men are the last of seven defendants to be sentenced following an investigation into the murder of John Pordage in Chelmsford in August 2017.

Stanley, 20, of no fixed address, was jailed in March 2018 for five years.

Bradley Blundell, 20, of Cromwell Close, Boreham, was jailed for life in January this year for Mr Pordage's murder and must serve a minimum of 22 years.

East Anglian Daily Times: Bradley Blundell was jailed for life for shooting John Pordage dead at a petrol station in Chelmsford Picture: ESSEX POLICEBradley Blundell was jailed for life for shooting John Pordage dead at a petrol station in Chelmsford Picture: ESSEX POLICE (Image: Archant)

Ella Colgate, 19, of Aldridge Close, Chelmsford, was jailed for 12 months in January this year for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

An 18-year-old boy from Chelmsford - who was aged 15 at the time of his arrest - was given a community order in March 2018 for perverting the course of justice and handling stolen goods.

Detective Chief Inspector Martin Pasmore of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "This has been a long and complex investigation, and highlights the very real dangers of getting involved with gangs.

"In this case, these weapons would have easily been discovered by children in a play park, and we could have been here telling a very different story.

East Anglian Daily Times: Saul Stanley Picture: ESSEX POLICESaul Stanley Picture: ESSEX POLICE (Image: Archant)

"My thoughts are with the family and friends of John Pordage today."