The fanatical leader of an Islamist terror cell in Birmingham, who plotted to kidnap a British Muslim soldier and broadcast footage of him being beheaded “like a pig”, was sentenced to life in prison today.

Leicester Crown Court heard that Parviz Khan, 37, had exported equipment to terrorists in Pakistan as well as planning the attack in the UK. The judge said he would serve a minimum of 14 years.

Mr Justice Henriques said: “You have been described by the Crown as a man who has the most violent and extreme Islamist views and as a fanatic.

“Having studied over the last month (the covert recordings), I unhesitatingly accept that description of you. You not only plotted to kill a soldier but you intended to film a most brutal killing. It’s plain that you were absolutely serious and determined to bring this plot to fruition.”

He added: “Unfortunately your enthusiasm was infectious and you dragged in your co-accused, every one of whom should curse the day they set their eyes on you.”

Four other men have been convicted of involvement in the plot or helping to export equipment to Pakistan.

Basiru Gassama, 30, was sentenced to two years in jail after pleading guilty to failing to disclose information about the plot. He will be released as he has already served 381 days, but it is recommended that he is deported.

Mohammed Irfan, 31, and Zahoor Iqbal, 30, pleaded guilty to assisting acts of terrorism by helping send equipment to Pakistan. Irfan was sentenced to four years in jail and Iqbal to seven years.

Hamid Elasmar, 44, was found guilty of the same charge. He was jailed for three years and four months.

This morning a jury cleared a sixth man charged in connection with Khan’s plot. Amjad Mahmood, 32, of Birmingham, was accused of knowing about the kidnap plan and failing to inform the authorities about it.

Khan, the fanatical leader of the plot, wanted to broadcast the beheading “to cause panic and fear within the British Armed Forces and the wider public”.

He was said to be enraged that there were Muslim soldiers in the British Army. His plan included enlisting the help of drug dealers to kidnap a soldier enjoying a night out in Birmingham. The victim would be lured to a car, then taken to a lock-up garage to be executed.

Nigel Rumfitt, QC, for the prosecution, told the jury that Khan’s “main activity” involved sending money and equipment to Pakistan for terrorists operating near the Afghan border.

Over two years he had sent four shipments of items, including night-vision apparatus, “snipers’ gloves” and equipment to detect cameras and bugs. The plot to behead a soldier developed because of Khan’s desire to move beyond the role of supplier to become “physically involved in terrorism”.

It was foiled because he came to the attention of the security services. Listening bugs were placed in his home and incriminating exchanges were recorded, although many of his conversations were about football or cricket.

Khan was recorded suggesting that when the soldier had been chosen “two lads will show blades and get him in the car and take him. Drag him into the car. There will be three men. They will put him in the car . . . it’s not going to take more than 30 seconds. It’s not as if we are going to kill people there.”

Khan admitted plotting to kidnap and kill a soldier, supplying equipment for use in terrorism and two charges of possessing jihadi computer disks.

Mr Rumfitt told the jury: “Parviz Khan is a fanatic, a man who has the most violent and extreme Islamist views. He is at the centre of a terrorist cell or network based in Birmingham.”

The equipment sent to Pakistan was designed to help terrorists “who were trying to kill our soldiers”, he said.

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