Drake made a surprise appearance at last year’s Wireless Festival
(Picture: PA Media)Two men who handled the gun used in a shooting during a Drake after-party at a luxury London hotel have been jailed.
The Canadian rap superstar threw a bash at the five-star Rosewood Hotel in Holborn after making a surprise appearance at last year’s Wireless Festival.
But police were called to the event when one man was stabbed and a gunshot rang out among partygoers outside the entrance to the hotel just before 4am.
Andrew Cross, 39, has now admitted being handed a bag containing the gun when he arrived at the party, while Liam Riley, 35, made a botched attempt to dispose of the weapon after the shooting.
At Wood Green crown court on Wednesday, Cross was jailed for six years and nine months and Riley was handed a five-year prison sentence.
“In the early hours of September 11 last year, you both attended the Rosewood Hotel in Holborn, either together or as part of a large group”, said Judge Karim Ezzat.
“There was a party at the hotel being hosted by Drake after his appearance at the Wireless festival.”
Drake had made a surprise appearance alongside headliner Future at the festival in Crystal Palace, as they debuted their collaboration Way 2 Sexy and Drake performing a series of his hits.
The Rosewood Hotel, where suites reported cost up to £20,000-a-night, regularly plays host to VIP parties and has attracted stars including Justin Bieber and Oprah Winfrey.
The court heard Cross was handed the bag containing the gun and jewellery by another man as he arrived at the hotel, and he claimed to have no idea that the weapon was loaded.
The judge said just before the shooting Cross “got into a verbal altercation” with another partygoer and pushed him, causing him to fall on to the ground.
In retaliation, the other man stabbed Cross and in the ensuing melee the handgun was pulled out and fired by one of Cross’s party.
“Following the discharge of the gun, people scattered”, said the judge, who confirmed that no one was injured in the shooting.
“Mr Riley was given the gun…and due to the manner of his driving he came to the attention of police”, said the judge.
When asked to pull over, Riley “sped away” and managed to evade capture through dangerous driving, the court heard.
He threw the weapon on to a construction site, only for it to be discovered by builders the next morning and handed to police.
Turning to Cross, the judge highlighted two previous convictions linked to firearms and said in attacking the other man he had “triggered the mayhem that was briefly unleashed”.
“This is the third time in the past 19 years when you have been involved with something gun-related – this isn’t bad luck, it is as a result of a series of bad choices.”
Both Cross, from Woolwich, and Riley, from Enfield, admitted possession of a prohibited firearm and possession of ammunition.
They appeared to be sentenced via videolink from HMP Pentonville.
