Two cousins jailed for a car-jacking and shooting in Kingston came to the borough armed and looking to commit a serious crime, a court heard.

Nico Codner, 19, and policewoman's son Duraney Kavanaugh, 21, were sentenced to a total of 19 years behind bars at Kingston Crown Court on Friday last week.

The judge, William Featherby branded the youths as "dangerous men" from whom the public should be protected.

After the hearing an officer on the Operation Trident team, the Met police unit set up to tackle gun crime, said it sent out a clear message that gun crime would not be tolerated.

Detective Sergeant Kevin McSherry added: "People who carry guns will be pursued by the Met police and dealt with robustly by the courts."

The men, both of Huxley Gardens, Park Royal, in northwest London, were found guilty of attempted robbery and possession of a firearm on May 26 this year.

The pair denied any involvement in the incident in which a BMW was hijacked and Victor Emeh shot in Wood Street at 3.30am on February 10, 2004.

Mr Emeh was being driven through Kingston by his friend Marco Pinto. The pair had spent the evening in the Works nightclub.

Codner and Kavanaugh were arrested eight months later after being selected through identification procedures.

Sentencing the men, Mr Featherby told the court: "You came to the borough armed and looking to commit a serious crime."

He said that there was clear evidence of very serious offences, He took into account the young age of the defendants, said that by pleading not guilty they had caused their victims a great deal of stress.

Mr Emeh, who was shot in the thigh, has fully recovered from his physical injuries but was left psychologically damaged by the ordeal.

Alphenge Bell, representing Mr Codner, told the court: "This is a tragedy for the victim but also for the defendant. The best years of his life will be taken from him."

Mr Bell said that Mr Codner, who was just 17 when he shot Mr Emeh, had been trying to "put some kind of order" into his life prior to his arrest.

He had patched things up with an ex-girlfriend and was getting work experience as a mechanic.

Kavanaugh, an illegal immigrant from Jamaica, came to the UK in December 2001. He is the son of a policewoman and a veterinary surgeon, and has no previous convictions either in Jamaica or the UK.

Tony Ventham, representing Kavanaugh, said since moving to Park Royal, Kavanaugh got in with the wrong crowd.

Mr Ventham told the court: "The incident last year was a moment of madness that will stay with him for the rest of his life."

Codner and Kavanaugh were each sentenced to two terms of eight years for attempted robbery and possession of a firearm to run concurrently. Codner was handed a further three years for GBH with intent so will serve 11 years behind bars.

Kavanaugh, whose immigrant status was not taken into account, was cleared of the GBH charge.

hsummers@london.newsquest.co.uk