GovWire

West Midlands gang to spend 50 more years in jail

Attorney General's Office

March 9
13:40 2016

The offenders, who have links to the notorious Burger Bar Boys gang in Birmingham, originally received a range of custodial sentences for offences including the supply of weapons and ammunition. Weapons seized as part of the investigation included several handguns, a sawn-off shotgun, and a MAC 10 machine pistol capable of firing 30 rounds in less than two seconds.

Nosakhere Stephenson, the head of the gang, was originally sentenced to 16 and a half years in prison. The others offenders received sentences ranging from 13 years to 4 years and 4 months.

The Court of Appeal today quashed the original sentences and ordered increased prison terms with a total over 200 years imprisonment. The sentence of a seventeenth offender was not increased.

The Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC MP, referred the sentences to the Court of Appeal in December last year and presented the case personally in court. He said:

This was a professional operation run by an organised gang who conspired to supply lethal weapons and large amounts of ammunition to criminals up and down the country. These weapons fuelled violence on our streets and had a terrible effect on those caught up in it.

I referred these sentences to the Court of Appeal because of the very serious nature of the offending. I am glad that the Court of Appeal has agreed that these men should spend longer in prison.

Detective Chief Superintendent Kenny Bell, from West Midlands Police, said:

Nosa Stephenson and his gang presented a very real and dangerous threat to the people of Birmingham and the West Midlands. I welcome the Solicitor Generals referral against their unduly lenient sentences and am pleased that these criminals will spend even more time behind bars.

The recent spike in gun crime is clearly a concern for us, as it is for members of the public. Weve got officers and staff working around the clock to close-in on those who bring this fear to our communities. In the six months to the end of January 2016 we arrested 261 people for firearms offences and seized dozens of guns. This is a result of our relentless efforts to disrupt networks like Stephensons.

Summary of the original sentences and the sentences awarded after todays hearing:

Nosakhere STEPHENSON - Original sentence of 16 years 6 months, increased to 22 years

Sundish NAZRAN - Original sentence of 13 years,increased to 17 years 3 months

Mohammed MIAH - Original sentence of 13 years,increased to 17 years 5 months

Rowan GUL - Original sentence of 12 years 3 months, increased to 16 years 9 months

Darren MENTORE - Original sentence of 12 years, increased to 14 years

Clinton OFFICER - Original sentence of 11 years, increased to 14 years

Ifran HUSSAIN - Original sentence of 10 years 10 months, increased to 13 years 10 months

Theodore WIGGAN- Original sentence of 10 years, increased to 13 years 4 months

Louis MCDERMOTT - Original sentence of 9 years 4 months, increased to 12 years 8 months

Fitzroy DUCRAM - Original sentence of 7 years 4 months, increased to 10 years 8 months

Joynal ABDIN - Original sentence of 7 years 3 months, increased to 12 years

Jamal SMITH- Original sentence of 6 years 6 months, increased to 8 years

Usman HUSSAIN - Original sentence of 5 years increased to 8 years

Amar GHALIB- Original sentence of 4 years 11 months, increased to 7 years 2 months

Janed MOHAMMED - Original sentence of 4 years 6 months,increased to 5 years 5 months

Mohammed FEDAR - Original sentence of 4 years 4 months, increased to 6 years 8 months

TOTAL - Original total sentences of 152 years 3 months

Increased sentences equal 204 years, an increase of 51 years and 9 months

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