Birmingham gun dealing ring members jailed

The eight guns seized by police

Fifteen members of a Birmingham gun dealing ring have been jailed for selling antique firearms and custom-made bullets to criminals.

Nine members of the gang were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court.

This followed the sentencing of six men, including Nosakhere Stephenson - described by police as the mastermind - yesterday.

The ring was uncovered by a surveillance operation carried out by West Midlands Police in 2014.

Eight guns, including a pump action shotgun and a Mac 10 Machine pistol, were recovered from premises in Great Barr and Handsworth - with one taken from a car in Hockley as it was being handed over to a buyer.

Another three men - Darren Mentore, 34, of no fixed address; Clinton Officer, 32, of Wallflower Street, Shepherds Bush, London; and Jamal Shaka Smith, 34, of Ladywood Middleway, Birmingham - await sentencing in January.

Sentences

Joynal Abdin, 26, of Hanover Close, Aston, Birmingham was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to 7 years 3 months in prison.

Mohammed Fedar, 27, of Westfield Road, Smethwick: 4 years 4 months

Amar Ghalib, 32, of Davey Road, Perry Barr, Birmingham: 4 years 11 months

Usman Hussain, 31, of Brays Road, Sheldon, Birmingham: 5 years

Ifran Hussain, 25, of Underwood Road, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham: 10 years 10 months

Joga Mattu, 31, of Cranbrook Road, Handsworth, Birmingham: 5 years

Mohammed Selu Miah, 24, of no fixed address: 13 years

Janed Mohammed, 21, of Dibble Road, Smethwick: 4 years 6 months

Mohammed Ullah, 19, of Frederick Road, Aston, Birmingham: 5 years

Nosakhere Stephenson, 41, of St Michael's Road, Handsworth, Birmingham: 16 years 6 months

Sundish Nazran, 32, of Nijon Close, Handsworth, Birmingham: 13 years

Rowan Gul, 33, of Reginald Road, Alum Rock, Birmingham: 12 years 3 months

Theodore Junior Wiggan, 28, of Scaffle Way, West Bromwich: 10 years

Louis McDermott, 36, of no fixed address: 9 years 4 months

Fitzroy Ducram, 50, of no fixed address: 7 years 4 months

Ch Insp Simon Wallis, from West Midlands Police's serious and organised crime unit, said the convictions were a "fantastic" result for a lengthy operation.

"We've put some prolific criminals behind bars who have been responsible for bringing dangerous weapons to our city," he said.

"It is no exaggeration to say each and every gun or bullet that we've seized represents a life potentially saved."