Mastermind behind murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky will die in jail

The mastermind behind the murder of a police officer has been jailed for life.

Piran Ditta Khan has been handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years for the murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky, YorkshireLive reports. Leeds Crown Court heard on Friday (May 10) that Khan will likely die in prison after finally facing justice for masterminding the robbery-turned-murder at Universal Express travel agents in Bradford on November 18, 2005.

PC Beshenivsky and her colleague PC Teresa Milburn were shot as they responded to reports of the robbery. Sharon was due to go home after her shift to celebrate her daughter Lydia's fourth birthday. A jury - who last month found Khan, 75, guilty of murder, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possession of an offensive weapon - previously heard Khan masterminded the robbery.

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Robert Smith KC, prosecuting, said Khan's culpability should be distinguished from his co-defendants. He said: "The defendant was responsible for choosing the owners of Universal Express as victims of the robbery. He knew them personally, as did members of his wider family. His knowledge of how that business operated, the likely value of cash on the premises and what steps needed to be taken in order to carry out the robbery was, the prosecution submit, unique to the defendant.

"The robbery was executed with a substantial degree of unnecessary violence in order to reach the defendant's aim. The three men had no connection with the premises of Universal Express. The prosecution submit it is a proper conclusion on the facts of the case the defendant was aware these men were prepared to use violence to achieve the aim of carrying out the robbery, with the intent to commit murder, and that is why they were recruited.

"At the material time, the defendant was present, waiting nearby and was instrumental in giving instructions to enter the premises and carrying out the intended robbery. In doing so, he knew they would be carrying the weapons in question, loaded with ammunition and he shared the common intention with them to shoot any person who sought to obstruct them and get their arrest."

The court heard Khan had a number of convictions for offences of violence including malicious wounding, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assault and possession of an offensive weapon.

He left the UK "in order to avoid arrest a little over 18 years ago on 22nd January 2006, some two months after the murder of police constable Beshenivsky".

Mr Smith said "there is no record of the defendant having returned from January 2006 and last year".

The court heard through victim impact statements written by PC Beshenivsky's daughter Lydia and husband Paul that she "loved" being a police officer. She had served as a PC for nine months before her murder.

Mr Smith said PC Beshenivsky had been speaking with PC Milburn about her daughter's fourth birthday before they responded to the report of the robbery.

He said that two of the men who carried out the robbery dressed in suits and the other in a white shirt and jacket. It was said that they carried a computer bag filled with firearms, a large knife and cable ties, which were used during the robbery.

Mr Smith said that PC Beshenivsky and PC Milburn responded to the robbery and, "once they arrived they crossed the road with two street wardens who had been on patrol and offered to assist by going to the side of the premises".

He added: "PC Milburn instructed them to stay where they were. She and Sharon then stepped onto the pavement outside the entrance to the premises. The three offenders responsible for physically carrying out the robbery were, at that point, in the process of leaving the premises, carrying with them the proceeds [over £5,000] and the two loaded firearms."

The court heard Sharon was within 1.5m from the defendants when they were both shot by one of the men. Mr Smith said PC Milburn was able to make contact with the control room and tell them they had been shot while coughing up blood. She was able to identify one of the defendants at the scene.

Mr Smith said after the robbery, the men returned to a safe house in Harehills Lane, Leeds, before going their separate ways. Khan fled to Pakistan in January the following year and was extradited back to the UK in 2023 to stand trial.

The prosecutor said: "Before his departure for Islamabad, the defendant had a settled life in England and Scotland," Mr Khan said. He said Khan's passport was due for renewal in 2011, but it never has been.

"He was active in business in the UK...As the police investigation developed, he abruptly abandoned all of his businesses and roots in the UK in order to leave for Pakistan."

Peter Wright KC, for Khan, had been waiting for extradition or on remand for a total of four years and 117 days, and these should be taken into account.

Mr Wright said: "The court is now presented with a man of 75, not in the best of health who understands his final years are to be spent in custody with the prospect he will die there. No doubt, there will be no public sympathy for a state of affairs, nor do I seek any."

As he sentenced Khan, The Honourable Mr Justice Hilliard commended PC Beshenivsky. He told Khan: "More widely, she commands all of our admiration and gratitude for her commitment to her duty and the courage she showed responding to an emergency call from Universal Express, when she and her colleague had no way of knowing what they would be confronted with when they got there.

"They were unarmed...Her courage and dedication that day cost her her life...No sentence I pass can put right what you have done. PC Teresa Milburn showed the same courage and commitment and deserves the same gratitude and admiration...

"Sharon Beshenivksy had been discussing her daughter's birthday with PC Milburn when they heard the call...We can say for certain her thoughts were for her family before she died."

Speaking of Khan leaving the country, the judge said: "You spent some time in Scotland but in January 2006 you went to Pakistan to avoid arrest...I'm sure that was why you left the country.

"You knew the net was closing around you...You were 57-years-old at the time of the robbery. The effect of your departure from this country you had the rest of your 50s and your 60s at liberty when you should have spent them in custody. That was a considerable advantage for yourself...

"This was very far from a case of spontaneous violence...You were in this planned enterprise together with the three robbers, albeit playing different parts, and were responsible for the harm caused...The four of you shared a murderous intent...You set off a chain of events."

The judge handed Khan a minimum term of 40 years, less time spent on remand, totalling 35 years and 247 days left to serve.