'Pillars of the community' jailed for possessing a shotgun used in Walsall shop attack
These two defendants from Walsall helped to spirit away the shortened shotgun used in violent shop attack in Smethwick more then three years ago.
Two men described as “pillars of the community” have been jailed for a combined more than six years for cleaning up after a group involved in a violent attack on a shopkeeper in the Black Country.
Cricket organiser Razwan Younis , aged 44, and Wajid Iqbal, aged 51, both of Birchills, Walsall, were sentenced for their roles in the aftermath of violence involving shotguns and axes at Smethwick's City Computer in Bertram Road on January 12, 2023.
The incident was spurred by a bubbling family feud which came to a head at the premises.
Younis and Iqbal were convicted of possession of a shortened shotgun and perverting the course of justice after being captured on CCTV with the shotgun and a car at a lock up unit 18 miles away, in Bentley Lane, Reedswood, seven days later.
Sentencing the pair Judge Robert Talog Davies told Younis: “Perverting the course of justice is a very serious matter. Those involved in the incident on January 12 had either been arrested or had fled while you were left to clean up after them. On January 19, 2023 you extricated the shotgun that was in the boot of a vehicle from a holdall at a lockup garage. It was delivered to your co-defendant’s address. The vehicle was purchased by your business.
“This was plainly connected. This had a very serious impact on the administration of justice.”
The court heard that Iqbal, a former security guard at Brinsford Young Offenders Institution, played a limited role and was under the direction of Younis out of a sense of misplaced loyalty.
For possessing the shotgun and perverting the course of justice Younis, of Miner Street, Birchills, was jailed for three years and six months. Iqbal, of Bentley Lane, Reedswood, was jailed for three years and six months. They must serve half their terms before being released on licence.
In August 2023 at Wolverhampton Crown Court co-defendants Haider Shabir, aged 23, of Lane Avenue, Reedswood, was jailed for 14 years and nine months along with Mohammed Uwais Latif, aged 26,of Alumwell Road, Alumwell, who was jailed for nine years and 10 months for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Mohammed Tayyib Wajid, aged 28, of Jessel Road, Birchills, all in Walsall, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for assisting an offender.
In April 2024 Ahmed Aumair, aged 23, was jailed for 12 years and six month for his role.
In August 2024 Jamal Hussain and Azeem Hussain were convicted for possession of a shotgun with intent to endanger life, possession of an offensive weapon and in relation to the shop attack that saw one victim was shot in the arm and another victim suffering a neck injury.
West Midlands Police said extensive CCTV and mobile phone networks identified 24-year-old Jamal Hussain, of Old Birchills, as the driver of the silver Ford Fiesta used in the incident which happened at around midday on January 12, 2023 and 28-year-old Azeem Hussain, of Miner Street, as one of the occupants armed with an axe. Jamal Hussain fled to Pakistan in the aftermath, but returned to face the music and was arrested at Birmingham Airport.
There were also with reports of windows also being smashed at a property in the Reedswood area.
Meanwhile, both Younis and Iqbal were well known in the community for organising charity events with Razwan Younis being a key figure on the Birchills cricket scene.