A gun runner who supplied arms and ammunition to the criminal underworld around the country was today jailed indefinitely.

A judge condemned part-time thriller writer Paul Alexander, who used a lock-up garage in Bath to store items for his firearms empire.

Judge Charles Gratwicke told the 53-year-old as he imposed the indefinite jail sentence for the protection of the public : “You were wickedly putting guns into the hands of criminals who you knew were going to use them. You knew they would be used and that they were used.

“It is quite clear you were a major supplier of guns to criminals in this country and callously disregarded people’s safety.”

Links to guns provided by Alexander, who was previously in the Royal Artillery, were found in shootings in Merseyside, Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Derby and Luton, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.

However, the full detail of his gun sales from antique or imitation firearms may not be fully revealed as future offences from his armoury may occur for years to come, the court heard.

Alexander, of Sydney Place, Bath, was arrested after a massive police raid on a 17th century property at Bardfield Saling in Essex last summer.

He had admitted possessing firearms  and ammunition "so as to enable another person or persons to endanger life," possessing prohibited ammunition, hollow point rounds of ammunition, conspiring to cultivate cannabis and acquiring criminal property.

Armed police carried out  the raid on the rented five-bedroom listed country house amid controlled explosions  that left villagers in a state of shock.

Prosecutor John Dodd QC said: “Police found a gun factory and also cannabis production. Alexander was supplying guns and ammunition to criminals around the country over a lengthy period – it was a sophisticated enterprise, an armoury to the criminal underworld.”

He said its purpose was to “endanger life, kill, maim, create terror and fear in cities around the UK” and the court was told links had been traced to 20 incidents throughout the UK where firearms were discharged. One had involved a murder and the prosecutor said more incidents linked to the operation may come to light in the future.

Defence lawyer Julian Goose said of Alexander : “He acted alone, not part of a large, sophisticated group. His army experience led to a fascination with guns.”

Operation Impish which brought about the arrests arose out an operation by Merseyside Police in 2007 into gun crime aimed at two feuding factions in Liverpool, the Croxteth Crew and the Strang Gang. It was set up after the Rhys Jones murder.

A suspect was due to take possession of firearms in September 2007 and an armed operation in Merseyside revealed Alexander's DNA  on a Reck Miami 92F self loading pistol.

Another DNA sample was found on two Reck Miami handguns in a June 2008 operation carried out by Greater Manchester Police.

About 28 guns were found in the workshop at Bardfield Saling. Other evidence found there included primer seating tool marks which were identical to those found on cartridges from at least 18 firearms related incidents. The equipment was linked to a guns used in a murder in Birmingham, four attempted murders, nine shootings and an armed robbery.

The police raid also revealed hydroponics used for cultivation of drugs in outbuildings. Some 211 cannabis plants were seized.

At an earlier hearing Alexander’s wife Caroline Hunter-Mann-Purdy,  59, also of Sydney Place, who admitted money laundering, was ordered to attend a mental health programme over a 12-month period.

Her daughter Jasmin Purdy, 21, of 50 Mortimer Way, Witham, Essex, admitted conspiring to cultivate cannabis and was given 12 months jail but had already served the equivalent of 14 months.

A second daughter Rachel Hunter-Mann, 38, also of Sydney Place, admitted money laundering, and received 200 hours unpaid work.

No evidence was previously offered against two others - Donna Lewis, 30, of Spring Lane, Bath, and Clifford Becker, 36, of Mortimer Way, Witham, and they were discharged.