Man in court after M62 car chase

AMAN detained by armed police following a chase along the M62 has appeared in court.

An illegal firearm was recovered after officers carrying guns descended on a taxi in the Rochdale area on Sunday afternoon.

Mohammed Shafquat Shah appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged over the incident. He faces allegations of possession of a firearm, possessing ammunition without a firearms certificate and possession of cannabis.

The 29-year-old was detained shortly after 2pm as part of an operation led by West Yorkshire Police.

Prosecutor Vanessa Jones said police followed him as he left an address in Bradford in a Toyota taxi carrying a yellow JD Sports bag.

The vehicle headed along the motorway until officers brought it to halt on Sir Isaac Newton Way near Milnrow.

They found Shah in the back of the taxi with the drawstring sports bag beside him, Mrs Jones said. The prosecutor told magistrates that inside the bag, wrapped inside a towel, was a self-loading pistol and two rounds of live ammunition, together with some cash and two mobile phones.

Shah, of Cloudsdale Avenue in Bradford, is also alleged to have had a bag of cannabis in his possession.

Magistrates sent his case to Leeds Crown Court, where he will appear on December 5.

He was remanded into custody and will make his first appearance there via a prison video link.