NINE men were given lengthy prison sentences today in Leeds Crown Court for their role in a plot to carry out a "contract killing" on the Kirklees mayor’s son-in-law in a drive-by shooting in Liversedge.

Hamza Hussain, then aged 22, was shot twice with a 9mm handgun and his friend Mohammed Hussain was hit by one of the bullets as they sat in a car in a car park outside Sainsbury's Local in the Fountain Court retail park, Liversedge, at around 7.10pm on November 4, 2019. Both men survived.

Six men were sentenced after being found guilty by jury of conspiracy to murder following a nine-week trial which concluded on March 2.

Three other men were also sentenced for their part in fitting the victim's car with a tracking device.

Umar Ali Ditta, 34, from Batley, who Judge Tom Bayliss described was the "organising force" behind what he described as a "contract killing", was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 20 years.

Aadil Malik, 25, from Batley, who was in prison at the time of the shooting and was due to be released in July of this year, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 18 years.

Azeem Hussain, 34, from Dewsbury, who Judge Bayliss described as "Umar Ditta's right-hand man", was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 16 years.

Jamal Malik, 25, from Dewsbury, gunman Kane Wilby, 20, from Batley, and driver Yaseen Ahmed, 26, of Heckmondwike, were all sentenced to life with a minimum term of 12 years.

Judge Bayliss said: "In my judgment, these defendants pose a significant serious risk of harm to the public and participated in what was to be a professional execution. The nature of the crime shows you to be highly dangerous men.

"The rule of law means absolutely nothing to you. All of you were prepared to organise together in order to kill another man in cold blood. Each and every one of you displayed complete contempt for the law."

Three men, who Judge Bayliss described as "footsoldiers under the direction of Umar Ditta", were sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Khamier Masood, 32, Mohammed Hamza Hussain, 25, and Adeel Hussain, 32, all from Dewsbury, were sentenced to a minimum term of eight years, two months.