Leon Seale-Edwards stockpiled handguns and bullets to supply to members of the Longsight Crew so they could be used to kill and terrorise rival gangsters.
He became a highly respected "armourer" for the gang and kept a photograph collage of fellow Longsight Crew members - many of which are behind bars for their role in gun-crime - on his wall.
Also on his wall was the message "LIVE BY IT + DIE BY IT = THE GUN."
Seale-Edwards, 27, went by the street name "Beefy" and was blasted in the chest in 2004 in a suspected gang shooting.
The M.E.N can also reveal that Seale-Edwards was jailed for five years in 1999 after kidnapping a man at knifepoint and blackmailing his mother before releasing him. He was also acquitted in 1997 for the murder of a drug addict who was beaten to death in the street.
Last night police welcomed his conviction, which comes on the first anniversary of the murder of Jessie James, saying it sent a clear message to Manchester's gangsters that they will always be caught.
The court heard the gangster, who has a tattoo with the letters LSC on his right arm, was a prominent member of the Longsight Crew, whose turf war with the rival Gooch gang has led to countless tit-for-tat shootings and murders.
Arrested
He was arrested after a raid on his home in Campbell Road, Longsight, following a tip-off to police.
Officers discovered a sports bag hidden in the cistern of his toilet. It concealed two handguns - an 8mm Lebel hammerless revolver and a Harrington and Richard .22 calibre gun.
One gun was already loaded with five bullets ready for use.
They also recovered 45 bullets, a CS gas canister and body armour inside the house.
Prosecutor Richard Orme told Manchester Crown Court that Seale-Edwards intended to supply the bullets to others so they could shoot people while the guns were in poor condition and were to be used only to cause fear.
Mr Orme said the search also revealed body armour and a mobile phone which was examined and revealed a text message sent by Seale Edwards offering to sell a gun.
The message read: "Safe bro it's beefy got a strap for sale need clip only 5bills uncle beefy." Mr Orme said the term "strap" means handgun.
Jailing Seale-Edwards, Judge Clement Goldstone said: "You were a fully paid up member of the Longsight Crew with whom mixed and whom you respected.
"You were clearly respected by them and there is no doubt, in my judgement that respect was mutual.
"This is yet another example of the gang-related crime with which this City is plagued. You were not stockpiling ammunition to use yourself but you're clearly acting as an armourer for those who might require ammunition to shoot or to kill.
Terrorise
"It seems to me for the ammunition to be there to answer the needs of those who want to terrorise and kill is, if anything, more serious than if you were intending to use that ammunition yourself and is an indication of your standing within the gang."
He then told Seale-Edwards, who showed no emotion as he was jailed, he must serve at least four years 35 days before he can be considered for release.
But he warned the gangster that he would only be freed when the parole board believed he was no longer a danger.
Last night Chief Supt Dave Keller, the man in charge of policing areas including Moss Side, Longsight and Hulme, said: "I welcome this sentence.
"He has been a criminal for a long time and he has got exactly what he deserves. It is good news for both GMP and the community.
"It is an indication of how seriously gang-related crime is treated. Anyone who is involved in this way of life can be sure we will catch them and they will be put in prison for a long time.
"The community must now get behind us and give us the information needed to lock up other criminals involved in gang life."
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Comments
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He looks more like a figure of fun with that Mr T getup ! What a loser - pity he couldn't have been jailed for a minimum term so he was an old man before he was released.
It is scum like this who is probably indirectly involved with all the people who have been shot in this city so far.
While I welcome the fact that this low-life will be off the streets for some time, I'm outraged he could be released from prison in less than five years.
The police have played their part in arresting him and, IMO, the judiciary should have imposed a much more appropriate sentence - 10 years, no parole - to reflect the seriousness of the crimes.
I despair.
This story is being treated as a major break through in the fight against gun crime and t's not its just a blip on the scene. "bully beef" might be gone but someone else will step up to the plate. What guns were siezed? Two busted ones and some body armour, big deal. The police know who the crews are and who has got the guns, if they took their front doors off three for times a week and sat on top of them n a way that prevented them from operating then that would be a story worth trumpeting.
life sentence, then told ny the judge serve 4 years then apply for parole!.
what a joke - he should serve the full sentence with no parole. it is obvious this lowlife is a career criminal, so 4 years is a slap on the wrist for him.
the judiciary need to really get tough with scum like this on their sentencing guidelines.
personally i would ensure that the new legislation would NOT allow for any parole on any grounds, with a minimum term of 25 years for ALL gun related violence/murder.
as for the PC brigade whingeing on about their human rights, do scum like this person think of their victim's human rights - not a hope in hell.
life should now mean life at whatever age they commit the crime.
4yrs????? if that a life sentence then im a dutch man!! the gangsters/criminals are laughing at the british criminal justice system...joke britain...life should mean life-end of
Astonishing, this mans history. He obviously has no plans to change his ways, is 4 years going to make the slightest bit of difference? Maybe after 10 he would be thinking of changing his ways?
What a brain dead sick muppet this is , maybe he can play spot the brain cell while he's in prison.
Here you are do-gooders. It's plain from looking at his photo that he's clearly a victim of society, and isn't really responsible for his actions.
Lock him up and leave him there - for the greater good.
Five years before being considered for parole? What a joke. He'll be out in 7 to 8 years, and up and runnning again with guns by 10. Didn't the judge notice this 'Mr T look-a-like' has devoted his life to guns and gangs?
Off with the Chains and bracelets mr t.put your overall on.It's such a shame that there is no death sentence.
Why show this guys picture? the MEN should not glamourise these guys by showing their pictures?
He Lived by it, shame he never died by it..... there is still time I guess once his pathetically lenient sentence ends.
4 yrs and 35 days minimum? He could do that standing on his thick head.He'll be early 30's when he's released and will have spent his time in the prison gym improving his physique.He's already served 5yrs (probably did 2 and a half). The courts should send out a message by sentencing him to 25yrs.I believe parole should be abolished and more prisons built in order to protect society.And gyms in prisons turned into libraries.
Lookng at the picture it shows that you can judge a book by the cover,this lowlife should of been taken into cusdody for his appearance alone(and as proved the police would have found something) because he wants to make it known to the public that hes involved in serious crime, its all part of his pathetic image. As usual he gets hardly any punishment and he can still do deals and have other people running around for him from his prison cell because mobile phones are easily available in prison.
to all the do gooders in this country...ask rhys jones mum and dad if you think 4yrs is suitable for this sort of crime!! unreal..lock him up and throw away the key...it is a minority making the uk not a nice place to live...personally id make him do 25 yrs hard labour in siberia like russian prisoners get...what a low life scum bag...
When are we going to get tough in this country? If you supply and use guns you should be serving a minimum of 10 years. If you rape someone 20 years murder 30 years. The crime rate would fall so fast because the police catch all these scumbags and they are out and doing the same again in 3 or four years. If you dont like live somewhere else is my message to the pc brigade.
Live by the gun, O.K hard man how about being parachuted into Afganistan, straight into a war zone, lets see how much you like guns then, don't worry you and your mates can have all the ammo you need, fire as much as you want. I would give them 2 seconds before they want to disappear down an imaginary hole.
This guy is obviously not going to change,when he gets he WILL go back to his old ways,perhaps he'd be better off in front of a firing squad for four minutes,instead of four years inside,he won't even be phased,he IS scum he supplied guns,he should be shot.
Our politicians and governments wont stop these people ,because we dont have tough enough laws. their is no dterent in britain .until we get out of this human rights act and reintroduce the death penalty with the birch and corporal punishment in schools nothing will change .and its only the voters who can change things in britain.
One day ace you will wake up !
What did his jeweller get?
Happyblue, DEEP INSIDE THE KREMLIN SSHH
One day mate you will understand where youve been going wrong. lets hope its not in the front of one of these guys with a gun or some crazy kid who wants to kill you for the crack of it?.
dont make assumptions about situations u dont understand. he's a friend an i dont condone his life style but unless u live where we live u will never understand the pressures young men go through in these areas.
Luke Donohue's comments about pressure are pathetic. What pressures? You have homes, benefits if not jobs, health, free education and everything. Your problem is that you have never seen real pressure. Come with me to the slums of Brazil and I'll show you pressure. You would not last half a day. Pressure? You mean self-pity. What wimps.
Luke Donohue. Choose your friends carefully and don't be so pathetic. There are much worse places and people don't feel the need to resort to violence or arming those involved in violence. Live by the sword ......