Jail for ‘dangerous’ men

Hasnain Khan, 19, of Carrington Street, Bradford, and Mohammed, 18, of Bowling Green Lane, Longsight, Manchester, were each sentenced to 15 years in custody with an extended five years on licence.

They were both acquitted of attempting to murder Mr Khan but found guilty by a jury of causing him grievous bodily harm with intent, possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, attempted robbery of a couple in a car and robbery of another motorist.

Judge Kearl said he was satisfied Khan was organising “and pulling the strings” of those involved while from the description of the shooter it was Mohammed who had travelled across the Pennines who actually fired the gun.

Owais Ashfaq, 18, of Gladstone Street, Barkerend, Bradford was sentenced to 17 years in custody with five years extended licence.

He was convicted of the same offences by the jury but also admitted an attempted robbery at a Bradford off-licence on July 11 last year, the possession of an imitation firearm on the same date and possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply on another date.

The judge said it was Ashfaq who had earlier met up with Mr Khan and bought some cannabis from him in a test run. He was then directed to a dark cul-de-sac later that evening so Ashfaq could buy some more.

Having lowered his window to hand cannabis over the car was surrounded by others and a 6ft man in a balaclava fired a sawn-off shotgun into the side of Mr Khan’s chest.

He was able to drive off but collided with the Golf, leaving its bumper hanging off. He made it to his uncle’s and was taken to hospital where he had surgery to remove pellets and wadding from his chest. He said he felt lucky to be alive.

The court heard the damaged Golf was driven to Staincliffe Road where the attackers decided they needed a replacement getaway vehicle.

They pulled up behind Ben Li Shen and his wife Amy who had just closed their takeaway food shop as they stopped at lights in Dewsbury Gate Road junction with Halifax Road.

Two men from the Golf threatened them at gunpoint and tried to open doors without success. The terrified couple managed to drive off and alert the police.

But another motorist John Buchan was spotted in his Peugeot car waiting for his wife in Goose Hill, Heckmondwike. When Mr Buchan got out, suspicious about the Golf’s occupants, he was forced to his knees at gunpoint, made to hand over his keys and wallet and his car was driven off. It was later damaged by fire.

Judge Kearl said the victims must have been terrified for their lives, even more so had they known the group had already shot someone.