Faisal Razzaq, a 44-year-old from Buckingham Road in Harrow, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of eight years for his role in moving converted firearms across London. The sentence, handed down at Harrow Crown Court, comes 21 years after his involvement in the manslaughter of PC Sharon Beshenivsky, a case that shocked the nation.
Career criminal returns to underworld after parole
Razzaq had previously served a life sentence with a minimum term of 11 years for the manslaughter of PC Beshenivsky, who was shot at point-blank range on her daughter's fourth birthday in 2005. The 38-year-old officer and an unarmed colleague were responding to a raid at Universal Express travel when the gang opened fire. Razzaq acted as the getaway driver for the group.
He was granted parole on licence in 2017, but intelligence gathered by the Met's Specialist Crime team led to his arrest in 2024. Investigators had been monitoring his involvement in the sale and transfer of firearms, and covert surveillance linked him to a firearm seized from a vehicle travelling to Notting Hill Carnival on 26 August 2024.
Network dismantled: 14 guns and workshop uncovered
The investigation recovered 14 converted firearms linked to the network, with forensic specialists tracing the Notting Hill Carnival weapon back to a conversion workshop run by ringleader Thomas McKenna. On 6 November 2024, a warrant was executed at McKenna's caravan in South Ockendon, uncovering a lathe, drill and tools used to convert blank-firing weapons into functioning firearms, along with ammunition, improvised explosive devices and extremist material. More than 100 items were recovered.
McKenna, 60, pleaded guilty to a series of firearms offences, making explosives and possessing a collection of terrorist material. He was jailed for 16 years. His partner, Tina Smith, 55, received six years' imprisonment after also pleading guilty to possessing a firearm, making explosives and having a collection of terrorist material.
Ringleader's partner and co-conspirators sentenced
Razzaq was sentenced alongside five others at Harrow Crown Court. Robert Dorey, 45, and his brother Ricky Dorey, 44, were jailed for eight and ten years respectively, while Abdul Rahman Saleh received seven-and-a-half years and Patrick Loughnane eight-and-a-half years. All were convicted of conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited firearms.
The court heard that Razzaq met Robert Dorey in prison, and the Dorey brothers passed guns on to Razzaq to sell. Razzaq pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited firearms, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life, and two counts of possessing a firearm and ammunition when a prohibited person.
Detective praises investigation outcome
Detective Inspector Andy Durham, from the Met's Specialist Crime Command, said: "Faisal Razzaq, someone who was previously involved in the fatal shooting of a police officer, played a pivotal role in moving these dangerous converted firearms onto London's streets. I am pleased the Met investigation has resulted in Razzaq being jailed again for a significant period of time."
The sentences mark the end of a major operation targeting the supply of converted firearms in the capital, removing a significant network of weapons from circulation.
