Two sentenced following Leegomery firearms incident
Two men have today been sentenced for their part in a firearms incident that occurred in Leegomery in March this year.
Speaking earlier today, Temporary Detective Superintendent Paul Williamson, from West Mercia Police, paid tribute to officers involved in the investigation that has resulted in Shakeel Khan, aged 26 and Abzul Khan, aged 24 both being sentenced to 6 years 8 months in prison.
Both men had last month pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life at Shrewsbury Crown Court. The charges relate back to an incident that occurred on Leicester Way in the early hours of Saturday 26th March 2011 when two shots were fired at a house on the street.
Speaking about the sentences handed out this afternoon, Temporary Detective Superintendent Williamson said: "We are very satisfied with the sentences Shakeel Khan and Abzul Khan have received today.
"It is through sheer good fortune that no-one was injured when the shots were fired into the property on Leicester Way as a woman was at home with her two young children at the time. There can be no doubt that this could so easily have been a murder investigation.
"I'd like to thank everyone that came forward with information to assist our investigation but I'd like to reserve special praise for the people in the local community for the way they provided support for the police officers in our investigating team.
"Officers spent many hours working on enquiries in and around Leicester Way following this incident and the understanding and patience shown by local residents was greatly appreciated.
"I'd also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the police officers and staff who worked on the case.
"The investigation was a complex one but such was the strength of the evidence obtained by the investigating team that in the end Shakeel Khan and Abzul Khan decided to plead guilty to the serious charges they faced, and admit that they were responsible for an attack that so obviously put lives at risk.
"I hope these convictions once again demonstrate that West Mercia Police will do everything within their powers to bring criminals to justice, no matter how long it takes or how well organised the crimes that have been committed appear to be.
"We simply will not stand by and let the criminal minority spoil lives and cause fear and concern to the law abiding residents of Telford & Wrekin itself, or the West Mercia area as a whole.”
