Man jailed for Hiding Gun & Bullets in Bush

Junaid Maroof, aged 26, of Nether Edge, Sheffield, was jailed for six years and three months after he was found in possession of a gun.

Sheffield Crown Court heard he hid the weapon and ammunition in some bushes as he tried to flee armed police.

On August 5, 2020, at around 8:45 pm, Armed Response Officers saw Maroof getting out of a car on Lumley Street.

Aware of the officers’ presence, Maroof was seen running in a “panicked” manner towards some bushes 20 metres away.

Officers witnessed Maroof approach the bushes with an item, shaped like a handgun.

Following a search of the bushes, officers found that he had hidden a black-handled gun and six rounds of ammunition.

Maroof was subsequently arrested on suspicion of a firearm.

The Star reported that Maroof was sentenced to six years and three months in prison.

After he was jailed, Superintendent of the Armed Crime Unit Ian Profitt spoke of the importance of disrupting those who use guns and weapons to cause fear and harm in communities.

He said: “We are committed and continuing to work hard to disrupt the organised criminality across Sheffield.

“Maroof’s sentence is a direct result of the coordinated work ongoing to link the shootings across the city.

“I hope those involved in criminality see that the police, prosecution and courts are working together to ensure those put before the courts are given significant sentences.

“Maroof’s arrest was a direct result of our Armed Response officers carrying out pro-active patrols across the county.

“We are there to protect you and disrupt those using our streets for criminality.

“I continue to remind the public that we are stronger with your help and support.”

“We continue to work on intelligence and information provided by the public.

“Please continue to provide us with information via 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers.”

Maroof’s jail sentence also included the incorporation of charges of array from 2018, alongside Qamar Nain and Sarfraz Razaq.

Both men each received a 14-month prison sentence.

In a similar case, Mohammed Subhan Ali was jailed for seven years after he concealed a sawn-off shotgun in some bushes.

He was also jailed for drug offences.

On December 31, 2019, police received a report of a man in possession of both a gun and ammunition.

Following police inquiries, officers arrested Ali in connection with the investigation.

A property was searched following the arrest.

A sawn-off shotgun was then found in a bin liner, hidden in some bushes at the back of the property.