He said: “The business of supplying criminal gangs with guns was known. The remaining defendants are due to be sentenced on Friday.Īndrew Fisher, prosecuting, said the defendants were linked through phone calls made to each other. Louis McDermott, 36, of Monins Avenue, Tipton, was jailed for nine years and four months.Īnd Fitzroy Ducram, 50, of Raglan Road, Handsworth, was sentenced to seven years and four months. Theodore Wiggan, 28, of Scaffell Way, West Bromwich, was highly trusted and stored guns and ammunition. He was sentenced to 12 years and three months. Rowan Gul, 33, of Bickley Grove, Sheldon, was a “significant link” between suppliers and buyers. Stephenson’s chief armourer Sundish Nazran, 32, of Nijon Close, Handsworth, was jailed for 13 years. Three others were found guilty of the same charge after trial. The details of the terrifying trade in guns and bullets was laid bare at Birmingham Crown Court where Stephenson and 13 other men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transfer prohibited weapons and ammunition. “If you buy or sell firearms in Birmingham be prepared for us to be looking for you and expect to spend a long time in prison. “Why would anyone knowing of that tragedy touch such a weapon? “Birmingham has seen the tragedy such weapons can cause and still bears the sadness.
“Once fired it will spray and kill anyone. “We can say the guns we have recovered would have gone on to be used at some point. “We will never know how long this supply chain has been active nor how many guns have passed through it and remain in criminal circulation,’’ he said. Ln 2003 innocent Letisha Shakespeare, 17, and 18-year-old Charlene Ellis died in a hail of bullets fired from a machine gun as they enjoyed a New Year’s party.ĭet Con Phil Rodgers said the police operation had undoubtedly prevented more murders. “Today’s result is fantastic because we’ve put some prolific criminals behind bars who have been responsible for bringing dangerous weapons to our city.” “If you’re involved in the illegal supply of firearms in the West Midlands, you’re risking a very hefty prison sentence and it’s only a matter of time before my team catches up with you. “However, recent shootings in Birmingham – some of which have resulted in people losing their lives – highlight why it’s important there’s no let-up in our effort to rid the region of weapons. “We’ve made real progress over the last decade and cut gun and gang related crime massively. “All cities have challenge around drug gangs and where there are drug gangs there are likely to be guns. “The reality remains that gun crime is still falling, making such a haul so significant. “This case could lead you to believe there are large number of guns or ammunition on the streets of Birmingham. “He tried his best to distance himself from his accomplices but the exacting work of my team, poring over CCTV, phone records, vehicle movements and forensic work enabled us to prove he was at the centre of this highly-organised and extremely dangerous gun supply network.
He said: “Stephenson was widely-regarded as an untouchable ‘Godfather’ but as this case goes to show, nobody is above the law.
Ī further five men were also jailed for a total of more than 50 years for their involvement in the nationwide sale of guns and bullets.ĭet Chief Insp Simon Wallis led the elite Serious Organised Crime Unit which smashed the gang and brought the Burger Bar leader to justice. But Stephenson – known as Nosa – was jailed for 16-and-a-half years on Thursday after being brought to justice by detectives from West Midlands Police.