Nosakhere Stephenson, 41, masterminded an operation to sell antique firearms and specially-made bullets to criminals

A notorious 'godfather' who sold machines guns to criminals in Birmingham while at the heart of a gang which gunned down two innocent girls in a botched attack has been jailed for 16 years.

Nosakhere Stephenson, 41, masterminded an operation to sell antique firearms and specially-made bullets to criminals around the West Midlands city.

Police say the gun dealer, known as 'Nosa', believed he was 'untouchable' as he ran the operation alongside fellow gang members from inside the infamous Burger Bar Boys gang.

The gang - which for years fought a bloody and protracted feud with the rival Johnson Crew - trafficked weapons including a MAC 10 machine gun, a brutal weapon which was used in one of Birmingham's most notorious murders.

Letisha Shakespeare and Charlene Ellis were innocent victims caught in the crossfire of the two warring gangs, whose turf war blighted the Aston area of Birmingham for over a decade and cost dozens of lives.

Their murders, which took place in 2003, propelled Birmingham’s gun crime problem into the national headlines and kick-started campaigns by residents who had grown tired of the daily acts of violence.

Eighteen men have now been convicted for a series of offences relating to the criminal firearms operation which Stephenson ran.

As he was jailed for 16 years, Detective Constable Phil Rodgers said the police operation - and subsequent haul of dozens of weapons and ammunition - had undoubtedly prevented more murders in the city.

He said: '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. But the MAC 10 is an indiscriminate weapon - once fired it will spray and kill anyone.

'Birmingham has seen the tragedy such weapons can cause and still bears the sadness. I am sure we have prevented murders.'

The court heard how the gang had thousands of rounds of ammunition specially made to be used with guns and revolvers, which they sold for about £3,000 each.

Sundish Nazran (left) was described as Stephenson's 'right hand man' and has been jailed for 13 years. Fitzroy Ducram (right) was jailed for more than seven years

TheodoreWiggan (left), described as highly trusted to store ammunition, was jailed for ten years, while Rowan Gul (centre) was given as 12-year jail term. Louis McDermott (right) was jailed for more than nine years

Although Stephenson was never caught in possession of the guns, phone records linked him to each deal and every other person in the conspiracy - including his right-hand man, Sundish Nazran, who was jailed for 13 years.

His Honour Judge Burbidge, sitting at Birmingham Crown court, said Stephenson was the 'go to man' and 'the directing mind' of the organised crime group when it came to obtaining firearms.

Jailing him, Judge James Burbidge QC said: 'You were the go-to man and directing mind of this organised crime group if firearms were required. You had significant influence over others and able to command respect and allegiance.

'You must know about the devastation caused to other families in your community when weapons have been used.The fact you must know that, yet still ply this trade, is beyond belief.'

Stephenson was 'at the heart' of the Burger Bar Boys who for years fought a bloody and protracted feud with the rival Johnson Crew. Pictured: Members of the gang holding some of their weapons

Latisha Shakespeare (second from left) and Charlene Ellis (right) were innocent victims caught in the crossfire of the two warring gangs. They were murdered in 2003

The court heard details of the gun deals. On April 7 last year, Stephenson met Nazran in the car park of The Birmingham Hotel in Small Heath.

The following day Nazran's car and another driven by a man called Joga Mattu were stopped by armed police. A bag containing a Dutch police revolver and 51 bullets was recovered.

A search of Nazran's home also discovered a Colt Police Revolver, while a Walther handgun was found in Mattu's car.

Class A drug dealers Mohammed Miah and Joynal Abdin - both of whom have been convicted - turned to Stephenson for help when two of their gang were shot at while sitting in a car in Aston, on July 31 last year.

They bought the MAC 10 machine gun and 9mm ammunition from his group and then used Mohammed Ullah to store the weapon. He was found guilty after trial.

As Stephenson was jailed for the offences, Detective Constable Phil Rodgers said the police operation had undoubtedly prevented more murders. This is one of the guns recovered by police

But police swooped and recovered the machine gun in the back garden of Ullah's home, along with a shotgun and shotgun cartridges.

Miah was arrested on August 17 while being involved in the exchange of half a kilo (473 grams) of heroin. He later pleaded guilty to supplying Class A drugs.

Prosecutor Andrew Fisher said another part of the conspiracy involved London gang members Darren Mentore and Clinton Officer who wanted a gun 'for some reason' and had contacts in Birmingham.

They came to the city with £3,000 in cash and met with some of the gang in Soho Hill, including Stephenson at one point.

When armed police later moved in they recovered a Dutch revolver loaded with five bullets and 25 rounds of ammunition in the vehicle they were sitting in.

Mentore was a member of notorious London gang, called the Prada Boys, and had previously been jailed following a series of knife-point robberies preying on rich Londoners.

Although Stephenson was never caught in possession of the guns, phone records linked him to each deal and every other person in the conspiracy. Pictured: Another of the guns recovered by police

The range of bullets on offer was described as 'like a sweet shop' by officers. This is another of the guns recovered by officers following a series of raids

Jewellery and high-performance cars were stolen, including a Porsche belonging to TV presenter Anthea Turner.

Another police raid at a lock-up belonging to Stephenson gang member discovered a rucksack containing 387 rounds of various calibers of ammunition and a Webley revolver.

The range of bullets on offer was described as 'like a sweet shop' by officers.

Class A drug dealer Ifran Hussain was also in need of a firearm and ammunition, so he turned to Stephenson and the Burger Bar Boys.

He sent two men, Janed Mohammed and Mohammed Fedar, to buy the gun with cash for him.

But after a series of meetings, including one involving Stephenson, armed police swooped on their car and a second gang vehicle and the cash and a French St Etienne revolver were recovered, along with 12 rounds of ammunition.

Hussain was arrested a few weeks later in a Birmingham apartment where £20,000 of crack cocaine and heroin was recovered along with £7,000 cash - hidden in a sack of rice.

Stephenson - known as Nosa - was jailed for 16-and-a-half years. A 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.

Rowan Gul, 33, from Sheldon, said to be a 'significant link' between suppliers and buyers, was sentenced to 12 years and three months.

Police at the scene at the hairdressing salon in Aston, Birmingham where Latisha Shakespeare and Charlene Ellis died after being shot

This is the CCTV footage taken from Rosies Club prior to the murders. Police say the convictions have prevented several murders across the West Midlands

Theodore Wiggan, 28, from West Bromwich, was highly trusted and stored guns and ammunition and was given ten years.

Louis McDermott, 36, from Tipton, was jailed for nine years and four months while Fitzroy Ducram, 50, from Handsworth, was sentenced to seven years and four months.

The remaining defendants are due to be sentenced on Friday. All the defendants were charged with conspiracy to transfer guns and ammunition between 4 March 2014 and 17 January 2015.

Det Chief Insp Simon Wallis led the elite Serious Organised Crime Unit which smashed the gang and brought the Burger Bar leader to justice.

He said: 'Stephenson was widely-regarded as an untouchable 'Godfather' but as this case goes to show, nobody is above the law.

'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.

'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.'

DCI Wallis said he was 'immensely proud' of his team.

He added: 'They have worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome understanding that each gun recovered, each bullet recovered, could literally be the difference between life and death.

'With their expertise the case was such that most pleaded guilty, most noteably Mr Stephenson who even had to concede his role as head.'