In a wooden toy chest on the flat’s balcony we recovered two pistols, one of which was loaded, and both of which had been converted from blank firers to lethal weapons.

A silver revolver and four rounds of ammunition were recovered from a bag elsewhere on the balcony.

Evetts answered no comment to questions put to him in interview, but has now been convicted of possession of the three firearms and ammunition following a trial.

He was jailed at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday (22 May).

Det Ch Insp Peter Cooke, from the Regional Organised Crime Unit for the West Midlands Region (ROCUWM), said: “It’s clear that Evetts was housing these firearms and ammunition for other criminals – criminals who rely on easy and quick access to guns which are stored in safehouses.

“These three weapons were capable of killing and no doubt would have been used to threaten and potentially harm others.

“We will relentlessly pursue those who use, carry or store firearms for others, and take those weapons off the streets whenever we can.”

The success is part of Operation Target, which sees us work 24/7 to disrupt and arrest serious and organised crime.

Those involved in guns, drugs, money laundering and exploitation are being brought to justice as part of the operation.