Man jailed for five years after gun was found (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Man jailed for five years after gun was found

9:24pm Wednesday 3rd June 2009 in

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A 21-year-old man has been jailed for five years after police found a prohibited handgun in his uncle’s attic.

Mohammed Masood Aslam, of Killinghall Road, Bradford Moor, was arrested following a drugs raid at his uncle’s house in Gladstone Street, Barkerend, Bradford, where officers found class A drugs with an estimated street value of £1,750.

His uncle, Ali Asghar Khan, 53, who suffers from poor health, was sentenced to 16 months for pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine, found during the raid in October, 2008.

Prosecuting Bashir Ahmed said the gun was recovered in the attic of Khan’s house.

He said: “As a result of that being found and the occupant, Mr Khan, being interviewed, he told the police that his nephew had actually brought that gun to his house.”

He said Aslam denied having ever touched the gun but his DNA was found on the weapon following a forensic examination.

Aslam initially pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea to admit possession of the gun.

Sentencing Aslam, Judge Roger Scott said there were too many guns in West Yorkshire.

He said: “I have certainly passed sentences which are not five years for a case such as this where there has truly been exceptional circumstances.

“In this case you have told a pack of lies – anything you say about this gun is unbelievable.”

Judge Scott said the first time Aslam was interviewed he said he didn’t know anything about it and on the second time, despite the forensic evidence, he again denied any knowledge.

He said at trial he then gave an account on oath of finding the gun under his pillow and picked it up to see what it was.

He said: “Then there was the basis of plea, which I say was fanciful, in which you say you went outside to an outbuilding to urinate, when presumably there was a perfectly good toilet in the house, and you found it concealed in a brick there.”

He said due to the amount of time already served, Khan could be released from prison in the next few days.

Detective Inspector Neil Benstead, of the Bradford District Drugs Team, said: “These two men have been convicted of serious drug and firearm offences.

“The operation resulted in not only a large amount of heroin and crack cocaine being recovered but more importantly removed a handgun from criminal circulation.

“We may never know the true intention for this weapon but clearly it was there to injure or intimidate.

“Firearm discharges in the city are not common and the recovery of this weapon and the sentencing of Mohammed Aslam go some way to prevent crime.”

Anyone with information about drug dealing or firearms should contact Crimestoppers, or Dob In A Dealer, on 0800 555 111.