A GANGSTER has been jailed for life sentenced and told he must serve at least 21 years in prison after being found guilty of master-minding the kidnap and murder of a private housing manager.

Father-of-four Paul Brady, 44, was lured to a homes complex near Bacup, where he was battered by between 10 and 15 masked armed attackers and bundled into a van. His body has never been found.

Paul Devalda, 35, was yesterday found guilty of conspiracy to kidnap and murder following more than 14 hours of jury deliberation.

There were cheers in the public gallery at Liverpool Crown Court as the unanimous decision was read out.

Leaving the courtroom in floods of tears, one member of Mr Brady's family shouted “scum” at Devalda, of Padiham Road, Burnley.

In contrast Devalda showed little emotion despite his girlfriend and co-defendant Stacia Crossley, 28, also of Padiham Road, crying hysterically next to him in the dock.

The jury was unable to reach a unanimous or majority verdict on Crossley, who was charged with assisting by helping Devalda cover his tracks.

Speaking outside court Detective Sergeant Paul Broxson, of Lancashire Police, said he was 'delighted' at the outcome.

He said: “I am more delighted for the family after everything they have been through over the last 18 months and the weight of this week.

“It was a lengthy and complex inquiry and one that was always going to be a difficult case for us to prove against the individuals involved.

“The jury has reached what I believe is the right decision.

“Sentencing in circumstances like these is difficult and a matter for the judge, but I am sure that the family is happy with the outcome.

“Nothing with bring Paul back and he will always be missed but the fact that someone will spend a lengthy amount of time in prison I hope will bring them some closure.

"I am immensely proud of the investigation conducted by a number of officers. There have been some outstanding pieces of police work to help us achieve this result."

In the seven-week trial the jury heard Mr Brady had been involved in a £350,000 cocaine deal and had the drugs at his Rochdale home.

The prosecution claimed Devalda, a drug dealer involved in organised crime, targeted Mr Brady after learning of the large cocaine haul.

Mr Brady was lured to the exclusive Lynns Court complex in Weir, where he was site manager, on August 1 2009, to repair a house.

As he and joiner David Collier left the site in Beaufort Road they were set upon by up to 15 attackers wearing ski masks and toting weapons including metal bars and a sawn-off shotgun.

Mr Collier managed to fend-off the gang and get away, but an eyewitness reported seeing a 'limp' body being bundled into a Citroen Berlingo and driven off.

Following the attack, police, who already had convicted drug dealer Devalda under close surveillance, planted a 'bug' in a hotel room he was sharing with Crossley.

The jury was played a conversation between the pair, which was recorded by the bug, during which Devalda speaks about getting rid of something 'on the moors'.

Heath Bowling, 38, of Stockport, was said to have provided vehicles used in the kidnap but later give false details to the DVLA and police.

Yesterday he was found guilty of perverting the course of justice.