PC Sharon Beshenivsky's daughter 'hopes to find peace' after sentencing of robbery mastermind

The daughter of Pc Sharon Beshenivsky said she hopes to "really find peace" ahead of the sentencing of the mastermind behind the armed robbery that led to the death of her mother.
By Cormac Pearson, PA
Published 29th Apr 2024, 07:54 BST
Updated 29th Apr 2024, 07:54 BST

Piran Ditta Khan was convicted earlier this month, almost 20 years after PC Beshenivsky was killed while interrupting a raid at family-run Universal Express travel agents in Bradford, West Yorkshire, in November 2005.

She and her colleague, Pc Teresa Milburn, who were both unarmed, were shot at point-blank range by one of the three men who had just carried out the robbery as he emerged from the door of the business. Khan was the last of the seven men involved in the robbery to be convicted.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Speaking to ITV, PC Beshenivsky's daughter, Lydia, said there will be "relief" when Khan is sentenced.

A memorial service held in Norfolk Gardens to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of PC Sharon Beshenivsky, who was shot dead outside a travel agency in Morley Street, in Bradford on the 18th November 2005, while responding to an armed robbery call. Pictured Sharon's shift parntner who was shot and injured Teresa Milburn, wipes a tear away, whilst her widow Paul, and their children Lydia, Josh, and Paul reflect on the past.A memorial service held in Norfolk Gardens to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of PC Sharon Beshenivsky, who was shot dead outside a travel agency in Morley Street, in Bradford on the 18th November 2005, while responding to an armed robbery call. Pictured Sharon's shift parntner who was shot and injured Teresa Milburn, wipes a tear away, whilst her widow Paul, and their children Lydia, Josh, and Paul reflect on the past.
A memorial service held in Norfolk Gardens to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of PC Sharon Beshenivsky, who was shot dead outside a travel agency in Morley Street, in Bradford on the 18th November 2005, while responding to an armed robbery call. Pictured Sharon's shift parntner who was shot and injured Teresa Milburn, wipes a tear away, whilst her widow Paul, and their children Lydia, Josh, and Paul reflect on the past.

"There's relief that he's actually going to be behind bars, but that doesn't really change my heart and fix the hole in my heart is forever going to be like that,” she said. "But on the day of the sentencing, I will be glad to see the back of them.

"With everything that was going on, I couldn't find the words to put on the headstone. I don't think any of us could, but hopefully, after all this is finished, we will get a headstone and really find some peace."

Ms Beshenivsky's mother died on her fourth birthday, and she said she usually spends her birthday in Bradford at her mother's memorial.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She said: "My dad was waiting for her to come like everybody else. Then a car pulled up at the top of the drive, and I actually thought that it was my mum coming home.

"The party went on; they just wanted to keep me busy, I think. Keep it going. To be honest with you, every other birthday, it's been about my birthday. Not about the death."

"I find it hard to this day to celebrate my birthday," Ms Beshenivsky added. "I do normally go down to Bradford with the police at the memorial and spend my time there."

Ms Beshenivsky said she has found help through her hobby of working with horses to help her through the loss of her mother.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I found myself a hobby that I enjoyed, which is working with the horses and that pulled me away from being pulled down and drained by everything and, I mean, I was in this tunnel of darkness for 19 years. I had every obstacle thrown at me that I had to jump over basically by myself."

Khan was convicted of murder and was found guilty of two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. He was unanimously convicted of two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon, and he pleaded guilty to robbery.

His sentencing is due in May.