By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 12:56 EST, 9 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:47 EST, 10 October 2012 . Two men who were part of a gang which shot at a police helicopter as well as officers on the ground . during last year’s riots have been jailed. Beniha Laing, 29, and Wesley Gray, . 27, organised a mob which fired at the West Midlands Police helicopter after . luring officers to the scene by firebombing a pub. They used violence that began in London after the police shooting of Mark Duggan and then flared around the country as an excuse to target police officers in a deliberate attempt to destroy the aircraft. The violence erupted in Birmingham when officers were forced to run for safety as windows behind . them were shattered by bullets being fired from four different guns. Scroll down for video . Jailed: Beniha Laing, 29, and Wesley Gray, 27, organised a mob who fired at the West Midlands Police helicopter after luring cops to the scene by firebombing a pub . Members of the gang discharged at least 12 shots at officers and shocking CCTV footage then shows others taking aim and firing a gun at the force helicopter on two occasions . Birmingham Crown Court heard how the men planned and orchestrated an attack on police at the height of the disorder in the city when they knew that police resources were stretched . Police had been dispatched to deal . with reports of a fire at the Bartons Arms pub in the Newtown area of . the city on August 9 last year. When the officers arrived on the . scene they were faced with a group of masked and hooded youths armed . with bats and various items of furniture taken from the pub - which they . used to barricade the High Street. Members of the gang discharged at . least 12 shots at officers and shocking CCTV footage then shows others . taking aim and firing a gun at the force helicopter on two occasions. Birmingham Crown Court heard how the . men planned and orchestrated an attack on police at the height of the . disorder in the city when they knew that police resources were . stretched. It was finally brought to an end when firearms officers attended the scene and a number of arrests were made. In June this year six men - aged . between 20 and 27 - were jailed for a total of 124 years after they were . convicted of riot, arson and firearms possession with intent to . endanger life. Evidence: A St Etienne revolver and ammunition which was also identified as one of the other weapons used during the riot . Bullets: Ammunition that was seized by police. Birmingham Crown Court heard how the men planned and orchestrated an attack on police at the height of the disorder in the city when they knew that police resources were stretched . Uncovered: A bag containing the weapon was handed to Laing by Nadeen Banbury near to Burlington Street, Birmingham . Uncovered: A Fegarmy 9mm pistol that was found at the address of Laing's friend Janine Francis . And today Laing and Gray were found . guilty of similar riot and firearms offences following a three week . trial - and were jailed for 35 and 29 years respectively. Following the case, Detective . Inspector Andy Bannister, from West Midlands Police, said: 'On the night . of 9 August, approximately 40 people were on the streets near the . Bartons Arms pub. 'They had planned an orchestrated attack on police officers who were deployed on the night. 'A number of individuals are already . serving lengthy sentences following a trial earlier this year regarding . this investigation and today we have secured further convictions against . other people involved. 'Despite the culmination of this trial, the work does not stop here. Catch: Fire engulfs the Barton Arms Pub, Birmingham. The gang luring police to the scene by firebombing the premises . Attack: When the officers arrived on the scene they were faced with a group of masked and hooded youths armed with bats and various items of furniture taken from the pub . Jailed: Janine Francis, 25, and Nadeen Banbury, 25, were found guilty of possession of a weapon and ammunition. Francis was jailed for seven and a half years while Banbury was sentenced to five years in prison . 'We are continuing to look at using . different methods of intervention to address the behaviour of other . individuals who were part of that group on that August night.' The court heard on 7 October, 2011 a . Fegarmy 9mm pistol and ammunition was found at the address of Laing’s . friend Janine Francis, 25, following a planned police operation. The firearm was examined revealing . that it was one of the weapons used on the evening of the attack and . also Gray’s DNA was found on the gun. A second firearm was seized on 19 . October when Laing was handed a bag by Nadeen Banbury, 25, which . contained a St Etienne revolver and ammunition which was also identified . as one of the other weapons used that August night. Jailed:  Nicholas Francis, 26, left,  was jailed for 30 years while co-defendant Tyrone Laidley, 20, right, received 20 years . Guilty: Jermaine Lewis, 27, was jailed for 23 years for shooting at police officers during last summer's riots in Birmingham while Wayne Collins, 20, received an 18 year sentence . Threat: Renardo Farell, 20, was sentenced to 18 years while Amirul Rehman, 17, was given 12 years. The gang lured officers into the area by firebombing a pub and even shot at a police helicopter . Yesterday the two women were found guilty of possession of a weapon and ammunition. Francis was jailed for seven and a half years while Banbury was sentenced to five years in prison. Neil Fielding, special casework . lawyer from the West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Complex . Casework Unit, said: 'These individuals are dangerous men - supported in . their criminality by the two women convicted today - who used last . year’s disorder as an opportunity to put the public and the emergency . services at risk. 'They deliberately targeted unarmed police officers putting their lives in grave danger in a calculated and cowardly manner. 'The conclusion of this case . demonstrates that the partners working together within the criminal . justice system will do everything in their power to bring dangerous . offenders such as these to justice. Target: A West Midlands police helicopter circling over Birmingham (file picture) The Crown alleges that the officers had been lured into the area by the pre-planned arson attack . Mr Lockhart QC told the court: 'As many as four guns were present. Scientific evidence confirms that'
Beniha Laing, 29, and Wesley Gray, 27, fired at the West Midlands Police helicopter after luring cops to the scene by firebombing a pub .
The violence erupted in Birmingham where officers were forced to run for safety as windows behind them were shattered by bullets .
Janine Francis, 25, and Nadeen Banbury, 25, were found guilty of possession of a weapon and ammunition and given jail terms .
By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 12:56 EST, 9 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:47 EST, 10 October 2012 . Two men who were part of a gang which shot at a police helicopter as well as officers on the ground . during last year’s riots have been jailed. Beniha Laing, 29, and Wesley Gray, . 27, organised a mob which fired at the West Midlands Police helicopter after . luring officers to the scene by firebombing a pub. They used violence that began in London after the police shooting of Mark Duggan and then flared around the country as an excuse to target police officers in a deliberate attempt to destroy the aircraft. The violence erupted in Birmingham when officers were forced to run for safety as windows behind . them were shattered by bullets being fired from four different guns. Scroll down for video . Jailed: Beniha Laing, 29, and Wesley Gray, 27, organised a mob who fired at the West Midlands Police helicopter after luring cops to the scene by firebombing a pub . Members of the gang discharged at least 12 shots at officers and shocking CCTV footage then shows others taking aim and firing a gun at the force helicopter on two occasions . Birmingham Crown Court heard how the men planned and orchestrated an attack on police at the height of the disorder in the city when they knew that police resources were stretched . Police had been dispatched to deal . with reports of a fire at the Bartons Arms pub in the Newtown area of . the city on August 9 last year. When the officers arrived on the . scene they were faced with a group of masked and hooded youths armed . with bats and various items of furniture taken from the pub - which they . used to barricade the High Street. Members of the gang discharged at . least 12 shots at officers and shocking CCTV footage then shows others . taking aim and firing a gun at the force helicopter on two occasions. Birmingham Crown Court heard how the . men planned and orchestrated an attack on police at the height of the . disorder in the city when they knew that police resources were . stretched. It was finally brought to an end when firearms officers attended the scene and a number of arrests were made. In June this year six men - aged . between 20 and 27 - were jailed for a total of 124 years after they were . convicted of riot, arson and firearms possession with intent to . endanger life. Evidence: A St Etienne revolver and ammunition which was also identified as one of the other weapons used during the riot . Bullets: Ammunition that was seized by police. Birmingham Crown Court heard how the men planned and orchestrated an attack on police at the height of the disorder in the city when they knew that police resources were stretched . Uncovered: A bag containing the weapon was handed to Laing by Nadeen Banbury near to Burlington Street, Birmingham . Uncovered: A Fegarmy 9mm pistol that was found at the address of Laing's friend Janine Francis . And today Laing and Gray were found . guilty of similar riot and firearms offences following a three week . trial - and were jailed for 35 and 29 years respectively. Following the case, Detective . Inspector Andy Bannister, from West Midlands Police, said: 'On the night . of 9 August, approximately 40 people were on the streets near the . Bartons Arms pub. 'They had planned an orchestrated attack on police officers who were deployed on the night. 'A number of individuals are already . serving lengthy sentences following a trial earlier this year regarding . this investigation and today we have secured further convictions against . other people involved. 'Despite the culmination of this trial, the work does not stop here. Catch: Fire engulfs the Barton Arms Pub, Birmingham. The gang luring police to the scene by firebombing the premises . Attack: When the officers arrived on the scene they were faced with a group of masked and hooded youths armed with bats and various items of furniture taken from the pub . Jailed: Janine Francis, 25, and Nadeen Banbury, 25, were found guilty of possession of a weapon and ammunition. Francis was jailed for seven and a half years while Banbury was sentenced to five years in prison . 'We are continuing to look at using . different methods of intervention to address the behaviour of other . individuals who were part of that group on that August night.' The court heard on 7 October, 2011 a . Fegarmy 9mm pistol and ammunition was found at the address of Laing’s . friend Janine Francis, 25, following a planned police operation. The firearm was examined revealing . that it was one of the weapons used on the evening of the attack and . also Gray’s DNA was found on the gun. A second firearm was seized on 19 . October when Laing was handed a bag by Nadeen Banbury, 25, which . contained a St Etienne revolver and ammunition which was also identified . as one of the other weapons used that August night. Jailed:  Nicholas Francis, 26, left,  was jailed for 30 years while co-defendant Tyrone Laidley, 20, right, received 20 years . Guilty: Jermaine Lewis, 27, was jailed for 23 years for shooting at police officers during last summer's riots in Birmingham while Wayne Collins, 20, received an 18 year sentence . Threat: Renardo Farell, 20, was sentenced to 18 years while Amirul Rehman, 17, was given 12 years. The gang lured officers into the area by firebombing a pub and even shot at a police helicopter . Yesterday the two women were found guilty of possession of a weapon and ammunition. Francis was jailed for seven and a half years while Banbury was sentenced to five years in prison. Neil Fielding, special casework . lawyer from the West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Complex . Casework Unit, said: 'These individuals are dangerous men - supported in . their criminality by the two women convicted today - who used last . year’s disorder as an opportunity to put the public and the emergency . services at risk. 'They deliberately targeted unarmed police officers putting their lives in grave danger in a calculated and cowardly manner. 'The conclusion of this case . demonstrates that the partners working together within the criminal . justice system will do everything in their power to bring dangerous . offenders such as these to justice. Target: A West Midlands police helicopter circling over Birmingham (file picture) The Crown alleges that the officers had been lured into the area by the pre-planned arson attack . Mr Lockhart QC told the court: 'As many as four guns were present. Scientific evidence confirms that'
officers to the scene by firebombing a pub. They aircraft. The violence erupted in Birmingham when officers were forced to run for safety as windows behind . them were shattered by bullets being video . Jailed: Beniha Laing, 29, and Wesley Gray, 27, organised a mob who fired at the West Midlands Police helicopter after luring cops to Janine Francis, 25, and Nadeen Banbury, 25, were found guilty of possession of a weapon and