'Designed to cause maximum terror': Armed robbers fired pistol and discharged smoke bomb during £70,000 professional gang raid on Leeds post office

A blank firing pistol was discharged during the raid on Wellstone Rise Post Office, Swinnow, in a "professionally executed" robbery.

Leeds Crown Court heard how a gang member also let off a coloured smoke bomb which added to the terror of those inside the premises on September 3 last year.

Nasser Khan was jailed for 12 years after being found guilty of robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Jurors heard how two men entered the post office, which is located within a general store, at 8.55am wearing face coverings while a getaway driver waited outside in a stolen BMW.

Threats were made to the post master as demands were made for cash and the weapon was fired.

The cash was handed over and the robbers fled. The robbery took just 40 seconds.

No one was injured but those inside the store were left badly shaken.

The postmaster was left covered in red powder from the smoke bomb.

None of the cash has been recovered..

The West Yorkshire Police helicopter was deployed in a bid to catch the robbers.

The stolen BMW was found abandoned in the Bradford area.

Police executed a search warrant at a house on Wansford Close, Bradford, and found a firearm loaded with blanks.

Khan's DNA was found on the weapon.

He was also linked to the robbery by mobile phone evidence.

A jury found Khan, of Ewart Place, Bradford, guilty of both offences by unanimous verdicts.

The court heard the 38-year-old is thought to have become involved with organised criminal gangs around 2014.

In 2015 he was given a four-year prison sentence for conspiracy to commit burglary.

While serving that sentence he was convicted of conspiracy to smuggle prohibited items into prison.

He was out of prison on licence at the time of the robbery.

Judge Robin Mairs told Khan: "CCTV footage shows it was a swiftly executed professional robbery.

"Each man knew his role. An imitation firearm was discharged within the post office which I imagine would have terrified those in the general store at the time.

"This was a well executed, professional, commercial robbery carried out by professional robbers.

"It was designed to cause the maximum terror to those inside, meaning there would be the least resistance."

A second defendant has pleaded guilty to assisting an offender in relation to providing the car used in the robbery. He will be sentenced at a later date.

After the case, Detective Sergeant Andy Greatorex, of Leeds District CID, said: “The victims and witnesses in this robbery were put through an absolutely terrifying ordeal when they were confronted by two masked men, with one brandishing a handgun.

“They threatened to shoot them and at the point that gun was fired they had no way of knowing it was an imitation and were in genuine fear for their lives.

“Detailed and comprehensive enquiries led to the recovery of the car and the blank-firing gun used, and saw Khan identified as a suspect.

“The incident has understandably had a lasting traumatic impact on those involved and we hope they can take some comfort from knowing that he has now been brought to justice.”