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Repeat gun offenders back in prison and facing longer behind bars

Two men have been sent back to prison and could have their sentences extended after pleading guilty to four firearms offences, including possessing a firearm when prohibited for life.

Fitz OBrian Mahoney (39) from Halls Drive, Coventry and Zahid Ali (33) from New House Place, Highfield, Huddersfield were arrested in June 2017 by officers from the National Crime Agency’s Armed Operations Unit (AOU). Both had previously been convicted of possessing firearms and ammunition and were on licence at the time of their arrest.Fitz OBrian Mahoney

On Sunday 11 June, surveillance officers from the National Crime Agency observed Mahoney, in a black Seat Leon, and Ali, in a Jaguar, meeting and talking at a carpark on Hinkley Road in Coventry.

When the pair parted company armed NCA officers stopped and searched Mahoney’s vehicle and found ten rounds of ammunition on the back seat. He was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm and ammunition.

A second team of armed officers followed Ali north on the M6. They stopped his vehicle at traffic lights on Wakefield Road, Moldgreen in Huddersfield and Ali was arrested. When he was searched, a round of ammunition was found in his jeans wrapped in tissue.

A search of Mahoney’s home address by West Midlands Police and the NCA recovered a silver Kimar Power Alerm 380 revolver from a plastic garden storage bin in the rear garden. The firearm, which is a prohibited weapon, contained five blank rounds.

On the 19 July at Birmingham Crown Court, Mahoney pleaded guilty to possessing ammunition without a certificate, possession of a firearm when prohibited for life and possession of ten rounds of ammunition when prohibited for life. Ali appeared at Leeds Crown Court yesterday (20 July) and admitted possessing one round of ammunition without a certificate.

A 35-year old man, arrested at the same time as Ali, has also been recalled to prison after breaching the terms of his conditional release. Sakawat Shah, from Cloudsdale Avenue, Bradford, was convicted in October 2011 for conspiracy to possess and possession of a firearm with intent, and will now serve the remainder of his eight year sentence. 

Zahid AliMahoney and Ali will be sentenced on 28 September at Leeds Crown Court. 

Mark Spoors from the National Crime Agency said:

“Both Ali and Mahoney had been released early from prison, yet continued to commit serious crime with blatent disregard to the impact on their communities.

“They have been sent back to prison to serve the remainder of their sentences. Working with West Midlands Police and West Yorkshire Police, I believe we have stopped two career criminals who would have carried on selling and transferring firearms and ammunition. 

“Tackling illegal firearms is a priority for UK law enforcement and the risk posed by the criminal use of firearms remains high in the UK. We are actively sharing information, taking action against those who seek to supply illegal firearms, and removing illegal firearms from criminal circulation”.

Anyone with information about can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

 

 

Channel website: http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/

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