Sheffield man jailed after DNA link to converted handgun
A man has been jailed for five years after DNA proved that he handled a converted gun.
Hamza Khan, 25, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court after he was charged with possessing a firearm of length less than 30cm / 60cm and possessing ammunition for a firearm without a certificate. The 9mm handgun and ammunition were recovered from a home in Darnall in September of last year after a search at his address.
On August 6, Khan changed his plea to guilty, which led to him being sentenced today (Tuesday, September 24) to five years and four months in prison. He also received a one-year jail term for the offence of possessing ammunition, which will run concurrently.
When sentencing Khan, Judge Wright told him "firearms only serve a purpose to kill, maim, terrorise and intimidate".
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Detective Constable James Hughes, the officer in charge of this investigation, said: "Firearms have the potential to inflict serious harm on communities and their use can lead to significant injury or death. As today's sentencing shows, anyone intent on using or possessing firearms in South Yorkshire will be found and dealt with by the courts.
"The firearm handled by Khan was found as part of an intelligence-led operation. We need the public to continue to help us in order to keep putting these dangerous criminals behind bars, and so I would urge anyone with information on the use of firearms in South Yorkshire to get in touch with us.
"We are stronger when we work with our communities, and even the smallest bit of information could prove to be a missing piece of the jigsaw in our fight against gun crime.
"I am pleased with the sentence handed down to Khan today as it means there is now one less dangerous offender walking the streets of South Yorkshire, but our work is not done. You can rest assured that we will leave no stone unturned in our policing of illegal firearms".
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