Dad caught smuggling loaded gun into a stolen BMW - and ammo was found hidden in a sock

A dad-of-three has been jailed for smuggling a loaded gun between arms dealers in Oldham.

Michael McDonagh, 29, is the last conspirator to be sentenced, after he was spotted by undercover cops engaging with several others whilst the deal was taking place.

Spearheaded by Nathan Godfrey, 30, the group have been jailed for almost 100 years for the possession of the Retay firearm, which had been modified into a live-firing weapon.

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On January 27, 2020, McDonagh and Sebastian Benjamin, 33, travelled from Hemel Hempstead to Reins Lee Avenue in Oldham.

Benjamin was driving a stolen BMW and McDonagh was driving his wife’s VW Golf, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

This was said to be a ‘pre-planned’ and ‘organised’ visit to pick up the weapon from armourer Hedley Brown, 57, who lived nearby.

Godfrey, Ryan Catton, 35, and Lee Nicholson, 30, had all been involved in telephone contact between the different parties in order to facilitate a smooth transaction of the firearm, Vanessa Thomson, prosecuting, said.

The BMW and Golf both were seen driving into the area at around 4pm.

“Surveillance officers watched the driver of the Golf on his phone. At 16.39 the Golf moved and parked up in front of a white van,” Ms Thomson said.

“At 16.58, Brown left his house in a high visibility jacket. He walked towards the Golf and approached the driver's side - where McDonagh was sat - and leaned forwards into the car then stepped back dropping his hands in front of him.

“He then removed a pair of gloves before stepping away from the Golf.”

Prosecutors said this was clearly the moment Brown