Birmingham riots: Men jailed for attack on police

Police CCTV footage showed that shots were fired at the force helicopter

Two men have been jailed after police came under fire during riots in Birmingham in August 2011.

Twelve shots were fired at officers and a police helicopter after a petrol bomb attack on the Bartons Arms pub, Aston.

Beniha Laing, 29, was sentenced to 35 years and Wesley Gray, 27, was given 29 years in jail.

Both men, of no fixed abode, were found guilty of charges including riot, violent disorder, arson and possession of a gun with intent to endanger life.

The verdicts followed a three-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

Two women were also jailed after being linked to the guns used in the attack.

'Orchestrated attack'

Janine Francis, 25, of Bromfield Close, Aston, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years, while Nadeen Banbury, 25, of Firsk Croft, Bromford, was sentenced to five years after both were found guilty of possession of a weapon and ammunition.

The four were jailed for their part in the attack on police during riots in Birmingham in August 2011

Six other men were jailed in June for other charges relating to the arson attack and subsequent attack on police officers outside the pub.

Det Insp Andy Bannister, from West Midlands Police, said: "On the night of 9 August [2011], approximately 40 people were on the streets near the Barton Arms pub in Aston.

"They had planned an orchestrated attack on police officers who were deployed on the night."

West Midlands Police said a team of 20 officers had examined more than 300 hours of CCTV footage as part of the investigation, after officers had been "lured" to the pub.