A YOUNG man serving time in a Young Offender Institute for his part in a conspiracy to carry out a spate of "fearsome" robberies on G4S cash-in-transit vans is to spend longer behind bars.

Mohammed Shah, 20, who is currently serving six years' detention, appeared before Bradford Crown Court to be sentenced after crack cocaine, diamorphine and ammunition were found at his home address.

Shah was locked up, along with four others, back in December 2017 over the "carefully and professionally planned offences".

Bradford Crown Court heard in one incident, a female driver was attacked with a machete outside a Tesco store in Bradford, before the offenders made off with a cash box containing more than £11,000. The group also targeted another Tesco store in Stanningley but were foiled before reaching the shop.

While none of the gang admitted to wielding the machete, or acting as the leader of the group, Judge Jonathan Rose said they all took an "equal role".

“This was not a single offence, but a conspiracy to commit multiple offences," he said.

Prosecuting on Friday, Rebecca Young told the court that it was while Shah was in custody in relation to these matters that police officers executed a search warrant at his home address.

They found 133g of crack cocaine, with a purity of 78 per cent and a street value of nearly £10,000 and 412g of diamorphine, with a purity of 28 per cent and a street value of around £30,500.

They also found 13 hollow point firearms cartridges, which, when tested, were found to be viable. However, he did not have a firearm or pistol from which they could be fired.

Shah made no comment in interview, but then said they were nothing to do with him.

In mitigation, Stephen Uttley asked for Shah's early guilty plea and age to be considered and asked for the principle of totality to be applied.

While these offences occurred back in May 2017, the matter only recently came to court, in what Mr Uttley described as "shambolic" conduct.

Shah was said to have been motivated by money in relation to the drugs and had been given them. The court heard there was nothing to suggest he was involved in the movement of any firearms and firearms were not involved in the 2017 incidents.

Shah is said be "doing well" while locked up and is engaging in courses.

He was sentenced to an extra three-and-a-half years on top of that he is currently serving - two years for the drugs offences and eighteen months for possession of cartridges. A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing will be carried out.