Piran Ditta Khan, the mastermind behind an armed robbery that resulted in the tragic death of police officer PC Sharon Beshenivsky, has been sentenced to life in prison. The 75-year-old Khan, who fled the UK after the incident in 2005, was extradited from Pakistan last year and found guilty of murder following a trial at Leeds Crown Court.
PC Beshenivsky, a 38-year-old mother-of-three, was shot dead while responding to reports of a raid at Universal Express travel agents on Morley Street in Bradford. The incident occurred on November 18, 2005 – the same day her daughter Lydia turned four. PC Teresa Milburn, her colleague, was also shot during the incident but survived.
Khan, who was 57 at the time of the robbery, denied any knowledge of the plot or the use of weapons. However, prosecutors argued that he played a pivotal role in planning the raid and provided instructions to the other perpetrators. Although Khan remained in a lookout car during the robbery, the prosecution asserted that he was as guilty "as surely as if he had pulled the trigger himself."
During the sentencing hearing, Robert Smith KC, the prosecuting attorney, emphasised the substantial degree of unnecessary violence involved in the robbery. Smith stated, "The defendant was present, waiting nearby, and was instrumental in giving instructions to enter the premises and carry out the intended robbery. In doing so, he knew they would be carrying the weapons in question, loaded with ammunition, and he shared the common intention with them to shoot any person who sought to obstruct them and get their arrest."
Between 2006 and 2009, six other men were jailed for their roles in the events leading to PC Beshenivsky’s death. Khan, however, evaded justice for over 14 years until his arrest in January 2020. In addition to the murder charge, he was convicted of two counts of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of having prohibited firearms. Khan had previously pleaded guilty to robbery.
In a heartfelt statement, Lydia, PC Beshenivsky’s daughter, expressed the impact of losing her mother: "I have little to no memory of my mum, and growing up, I have had to hear about her from friends and family. She went to work that day and never came home. I often think she was a hero that day and paid the ultimate sacrifice."
Paul Beshenivsky, Sharon’s husband, also shared his grief: "The way we lost Sharon was the most brutal and callous way. She should have come home at the end of her shift to celebrate our daughter’s fourth birthday. She never came home because of the actions of Piran Ditta Khan. If he had not organised the robbery, Sharon would not have been shot dead. She was doing her duty as a police officer, a job she loved to do, and we are all very proud of her."
The judge, Mr Justice Hillard, delivered the life sentence, emphasising that no sentence could fully rectify the loss caused by Khan’s actions. Khan will spend the rest of his life in custody, marking the end of a 19-year quest for justice in PC Beshenivsky’s case.
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