An associate of a man shot dead by an armed officer during a police stop on the M62 has been jailed for 18 years after being involved in a conspiracy to possess firearms and ammunition on the day of the incident.

Mohsin Amin, 32, was driving the Audi A4 that Yassar Yakub was killed in on January 2 last year after four unmarked police cars had surrounded the vehicle at junction 24 of the motorway at Ainley Top, near Huddersfield.

Leeds Crown Court heard how the officer who fired the fatal round at 6.05pm saw Mr Yakub holding a weapon, and felt that the 28-year-old was an imminent danger.

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Telling the court how the deceased had been involved in a drugs feud, prosecutor Peter Moulson said: "It is clear that the officer had no other option and did what was necessary to protect his or herself, his or her colleagues, and members of the public on that busy slip road."

Following a fortnight-long trial, jurors found Amin, of Broomer Street, Dewsbury, guilty of conspiracy to possess firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life on the day of Mr Yakub's death.

Sentencing him today to 18 years in jail, judge Mr Justice Turner told the defendant: "You knew that Yassar Yakub had a gun, which you both intended should be used in a way that endangered life in a preconceived and imminent way."

During the trial, jurors heard how Amin, Mr Yakub and two other men, 28-year-old Rexhino Arapaj and David Butlin, 39, were monitored by police as they travelled from the Cedar Court Hotel in Huddersfield to Cafe de Akbar in Leeds Road, Bradford.

Mr Yakub was in the passenger seat of the white Audi being driven by Amin, while martial arts coach Butlin drove a white VW Scirocco with Mr Arapaj as his front seat passenger.

Jurors were told how Amin and Mr Yakub both entered the restaurant to meet with Mohammed Nisar Khan, also known as Meggy, and Kashif Tahir, while the other two men remained in the Scirocco.

Following the meeting, the two vehicles travelled towards Huddersfield but the court heard how, following a police operation in which officers observed Mr Yakub and other individuals, the vehicles were suddenly stopped, with the fatal shot being fired shortly afterwards when Mr Yakub failed to drop the weapon.

Officers later discovered the fully loaded and operational Russian Baikal pistol under the passenger seat of the Audi, as well as a silencer and a bag of plastic ammunition in the glove compartment.

Police also discovered a string of WhatsApp messages between Amin and an unidentified man, known as Raa, leading up to the day of Mr Yakub's death.

Mr Moulson told how, although these messages implied a criminal mindset, the defendant has never disclosed the identity of Raa.

The jury cleared both Mr Arapaj, of Thornlea Road, Huddersfield, and Butlin of conspiracy to possess firearms and ammunition, but found Butlin, of Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth, guilty of possession of an offensive weapon, a push-knife, on the day of Mr Yakub's death.

He was jailed for 18 months by the judge, who told him: "I am sure that you formed the contingent intention to use the weapon, at least in a way that presented a threat."

The judge added that Butlin's claim that he had inadvertently taken the knife with him on the day of the shooting was "implausible", and that it had been taken in anticipation of a fight.

Detective Chief Superintendent Nick Wallen from West Yorkshire Police`s Major Enquiry Team, said: “We are extremely pleased with the findings of guilt and with the sentences which have been handed down today to these dangerous individuals who were involved in serious and organised crime.

“There is currently an ongoing investigation being undertaken by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and also a forthcoming inquest into the death of Mr Yaqub and therefore we will not be able to provide any further comment at this time.”

Gerry Wareham, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS in Yorkshire and Humberside, said: “The jury found  that Moshin Amin was a party to an agreement with Yasser Yaqub to possess the gun, silencer and ammunition for the purpose of endangering the lives of others. We were able to provide evidence to show that the background to this was an ongoing drug feud.

“Moshin Amin also had with him mobile telephones equipped with ‘stealth SIMS’ so as to hide the identities of those using them and the calls made. David Butlin also accepted he had used a  phone equipped with a stealth SIM.

“Today Moshin Amin will begin serving a lengthy prison sentence as a result of his involvement in organised criminality.”