Man jailed for life for 2005 murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky

Piran Ditta Khan, 75, was convicted last month at Leeds Crown Court of killing the West Yorkshire Police officer, who was responding to an alarm at Universal Express travel agent in Bradford with colleague PC Teresa Milburn, who was also shot.

PC Beshenivsky died from a gunshot wound to the chest, and PC Milburn was taken to hospital where she later recovered from her injuries.

Khan had spent nearly two decades evading justice. He was extradited from Pakistan last year, and was the last of seven men involved in the robbery to face trial.

He was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Friday (May 10) with Judge Mr Justice Hilliard telling Khan he will “spend the rest of his life in prison”.

A statement that was read outside court by the family liaison officer Linzie Holroyd on behalf of the family of PC Beshenivsky said: “The 18th November 2005 is a date that will remain etched in our memories forever. What started as a happy, special day to celebrate Lydia’s fourth birthday, was a day that ended in devastating, sad consequences due to the callous actions of Piran Ditta Khan and his associates.

“Since then, the 18th November is no longer a birthday celebration (for Lydia and us all) but now a day of remembrance and memorial.

“That was the day the lives of our family and those close to Sharon changed forever. As well as Sharon’s friend and colleague Teresa, and her family.

“November 2005 was the start of an almost 19-year journey.  A journey seeking the truth and justice for Sharon, who was not just a police officer, but a loving mum, wife, daughter, sister, and a friend to many.

“Our journey seeking justice and closure of the judicial process is now at an end. This journey has and continues to be difficult for us all.  Enduring several trials over the years has been hard, each one of them taking us back to the very beginning, which made us feel like we had lost Sharon all over again. And now we once again pick up the pieces of our lives and continue forward as Sharon would have wanted us all to do.

“We would like to thank all those who have been involved in the investigation and criminal justice process for their tireless dedication, perseverance, support, and attention to detail which has made this day possible.

“We respect the findings of the court and thank the jury for the diligence and care they took over considering all the evidence during the eight-week trial.

“No prison sentence could ever compensate us for Sharon’s life and our loss, but we will move forward knowing that justice has been served.”

Assistant Chief Constable Patrick Twiggs of West Yorkshire Police said: “We welcome the life sentence handed down to Khan today. This is a day of mixed emotions. On the one hand we are pleased to get the final conviction in this case, but on the other hand we are sad as it has brought into sharp focus the completely unnecessary waste of life that day.

“For 18 years we have never given up on getting justice for Sharon and Teresa, and today their families have received that justice.

“Sharon was murdered in the line of duty, in what was a totally unnecessary act. Sharon was doing her job and protecting the public.

“The pain and anguish of what happened on that day and the profound sense of loss, will come flooding back to her family, friends, Police and the local community. It was a day we will never forget.

“We never gave up, we relentlessly pursued Khan even when things got tough, we never gave up.

“I would like to thank our partners, including the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), National Crime Agency (NCA), Pakistani authorities and all police forces over the years who have helped us in this investigation.

“I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Sharon’s family and Teresa and all who were affected that day.

“West Yorkshire Police will continue to honour Sharon’s memory, we still mourn the loss, we still miss her, she will be forever in our thoughts.”

PC Beshenivsky and PC Milburn were about to finish their shift when a call came over the radio about an alarm at the Universal Express travel agent on Morley Street. on November 18, 2005.

They accepted the call and arrived at Morley Street at approximately 3.30pm that afternoon. As they approached the entrance to the travel agents, three men burst out of the business shooting PC Beshenivsky at close range. PC Milburn was also shot.

A manhunt for the suspects was launched. This led to the arrest and conviction of six people.

The final suspect and mastermind of the robbery, Piran Ditta Khan, fled the country to Pakistan.

An extradition request was made shortly afterwards by the CPS’s International team. He remained at large until he was tracked down by the NCA and Pakistani law enforcement and arrested in January 2020.

Despite there not being an extradition treaty with Pakistan, the CPS, working closely with the NCA, the CPS Liaison Prosecutor in Pakistan, and the Pakistani authorities, were able to secure the approval of Khan’s removal in March 2023.

Khan was extradited to the UK on April 12, 2023, where officers from West Yorkshire Police arrested him, and he was formally charged with murder, firearms offences, and robbery.

David Holderness, Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS, said: “The sentencing of Piran Ditta Khan brings an 18-year-old case to its just end.

“Khan’s fateful decision to execute an armed robbery and purchase deadly firearms is the reason PC Sharon Beshenivksy is not alive today.

“Even though he did not fire the fatal shot, his actions stole from Sharon and those who knew her a lifetime together, and as he is sentenced today our thoughts remain with her family and loved ones.

“This was a complex investigation and prosecution, and I would like to thank West Yorkshire Police, the NCA, the authorities in Pakistan and our colleagues in the CPS’s International Unit – it was only because of this cross-agency working that we were able to secure a conviction against Khan.”