Faisal Razzaq, one of the men convicted of killing police officer Sharon Beshenivsky, has been sentenced to life in prison for a second time for his involvement in a gun conspiracy. The 45-year-old began selling firearms to criminals after being released from prison.
Background and Conviction
Razzaq acted as the getaway driver in a botched robbery in Bradford, West Yorkshire, that ended in Pc Beshenivsky being shot dead. He was convicted of manslaughter in 2006 and sentenced to life with a minimum of 11 years in prison.
After being granted parole in 2017, Razzaq lived in Edgware, north London, and ran a luxury car hire business. However, he spent much of his time obtaining guns and selling them to criminal customers.
Firearms Conspiracy Details
Razzaq was one of six people sentenced on Thursday for involvement in a firearms conspiracy that supplied weapons to gangs across London. Judge Hannah Kinch sentenced him to life with a minimum of eight years, 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 added: "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.
Investigation and Sentencing
Harrow Crown Court heard that while serving his sentence over Pc Beshenivsky's death, Razzaq was in HMP Ranby at the same time as co-defendant Robert Dorey, from 2013 to 2015. Prosecutors said Razzaq played "a central role" in the conspiracy, with Robert Dorey, 45, and his brother Ricky Dorey, 44, passing guns on to Razzaq, who sold them 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 through a probe placed inside Razzaq's car that recorded his conversations. On August 22, Razzaq drove Saleh to his home in Edgware, and they discussed selling a gun to a customer and how many rounds of ammunition are routinely sold with a weapon.
Razzaq told Saleh that if police attempted to detain him, he should shoot at them 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." He also said: "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."
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 Thomas McKenna, jailed in February for converting blank-firing guns into deadly pistols.
Ricky Dorey was jailed for 10 years, Robert Dorey for eight years, and Saleh for seven years and six months, all having 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. His 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.
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.
