Woman who helped gun killer given suspended jail sentence

Ruqiah Begum picked up Afzal Arif in her car after he parked up the vehicle he was using when he shot Gavin Clarke in Chapeltown, Leeds on August 8 last year.

He had told her he had done something serious and she later found out what that was, learning of the shooting which led to Mr Clarke’s death four days later.

Paul Greaney QC, prosecuting, said Begum let Arif use her phone and helped get top up for another one, bought some petrol at a service station which was used to burn his clothing in woods near Bramhope, Leeds, and after having a meal with him in Harrogate, setting up a partial alibi for him, drove him to a hotel for the night.

He told Leeds Crown Court Begum was one of a number of people Arif involved in his plot to try and escape justice but she subsequently admitted what she had done, indicating she had been frightened of Arif.

Andrew Stubbs QC, representing her, told the court Begum was in a difficult position at the time. Having come to the UK at the age of 15 for an arranged marriage to an older man, when she spoke no English, she had two children by him before separating from that abusive relationship.

Having become involved with Arif she felt under pressure when he turned to her for help in her situation as a single Asian mother.

Begum, 23, admitted conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and was given 12 months in prison suspended for 18 months with a 50 day activity programme, 120 hours unpaid work and a three month curfew.

The Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier QC said he was able to take an exceptional course in her case for the sake of her children but that would not open the door to others in her situation.

He accepted she was vulnerable at the time and probably fell prey to Arif’s smooth talking, becoming one of his girlfriends and had then been manipulated after the shooting. Arif has been jailed for life for murder.