Pc Sharon Beshenivsky killer given second life sentence for gun conspiracy

One of the men convicted of killing police officer Sharon Beshenivsky has been handed a second life sentence for his role in a gun conspiracy.

Faisal Razzaq started selling firearms to criminals after serving a prison sentence for his role in a botched robbery that ended in Pc Beshenivsky being shot dead.

Razzaq, who acted as the getaway driver for the raid in Bradford, West Yorkshire, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 11 years in prison after he was convicted of manslaughter in 2006.

When he was given parole in 2017, he lived in Edgware, north London, and began running a luxury car hire business, but spent much of his time obtaining guns and selling them to criminal customers.

Razzaq, now 45, was one of six people sentenced on Thursday for his involvement in a firearms conspiracy which supplied weapons to gangs across London.

Judge Hannah Kinch sentenced him to life with a minimum of eight years in prison, telling the court that the seriousness of gun crime “could not be overstated”.

She said: “Criminals use guns to terrorise others… Guns kill, they maim, they devastate the lives of their victims.”

The judge went on to say: “It is no exaggeration to say that guns are a modern plague on our streets.

“It is for that reason that when such offences come before the courts, they will be met with serious sentences.”

Razzaq previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell or transfer banned guns, possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life and two counts of possessing a firearm and ammunition when banned.

Harrow Crown Court heard that while serving his sentence over Pc Beshenivsky’s death, Razzaq was in HMP Ranby at the same time as one of his co-defendants in the firearms conspiracy, Robert Dorey, from 2013 to 2015.

Pc Sharon Beshenivsky was murdered on November 18, 2005 (West Yorkshire Police)placeholder image
Pc Sharon Beshenivsky was murdered on November 18, 2005 (West Yorkshire Police)

Prosecutors said Razzaq played “a central role” in the conspiracy which saw Robert Dorey, 45, and his brother Ricky Dorey, 44, passing guns on to Razzaq, who sold them on to criminals.

Razzaq also enlisted the help of Abdul Saleh, 32.

In August 2024, Razzaq, the Dorey brothers and Saleh were involved in the sale of 10 revolvers.

Police discovered their roles in the conspiracy through a probe placed inside Razzaq’s car which recorded his conversations.

The court heard that on August 22 Razzaq drove Saleh to his home in Edgeware, and they discussed selling a gun to a customer, as well as how many rounds of ammunition are routinely sold along with a weapon.

Razzaq told Saleh that if the police attempted to detain him he should not hesitate to shoot at them in order to escape, saying: “Feds try and grab you just shoot at the car, shoot in the air. I don’t care where you shoot but you’ve got to shoot bro.”

As to who a weapon is sold to, Razzaq told Saleh: ‘I’ll sell it to anyone I don’t give a f*** bro. We’re businessmen Harry, (a nickname for Saleh) we don’t care.”

The court heard that between August 27 and September 1 there were discussions between Ricky and Robert Dorey and Razzaq where they discussed the supply of firearms.

Police searched Razzaq’s home on Buckingham Road on September 2 and found a pistol and eight rounds of ammunition in a bag at the bottom of a makeshift wardrobe.

Guns Razzaq sold have been traced to kingpin Thomas McKenna, who was jailed in February for converting blank-firing guns into deadly pistols.

Faisal Razzaq, the getaway driver in the fatal shooting of Pc Sharon Beshenivsky during a raid at family-run Universal Express travel agents in Bradford, West Yorkshire, in November 2005.placeholder image
Faisal Razzaq, the getaway driver in the fatal shooting of Pc Sharon Beshenivsky during a raid at family-run Universal Express travel agents in Bradford, West Yorkshire, in November 2005. | Met Police

Ricky Dorey was jailed for 10 years, Robert Dorey for eight years and Saleh for seven years and six months. All three had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell prohibited firearms.

Patrick Loughnane, 59, who acted as a communication link between Ricky Dorey and McKenna, was jailed for eight years and six months for conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited firearms.

Loughnane’s niece Tammy Rigg, 40, who agreed to store a converted firearm at her home in South Ockendon, was jailed for five years and three months for possession of a prohibited firearm and possession of ammunition without a certificate.

Razzaq was one of seven men convicted over the robbery that led to Pc Beshenivsky’s death on November 18 2005.

The officer was killed on her daughter’s fourth birthday while interrupting the robbery at family-run Universal Express travel agents.

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