Solihull West and Shirley MP Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst has written to the Attorney-General urging a review of the sentences handed to two men at the centre of a major county lines drugs network operating between Birmingham and Solihull.
Ansir Khan and Raheel Khan, described in court reports as key figures in the so-called ‘Kash Line’ operation, received sentences of 10 years 5 months and 10 years 9 months respectively. The pair were said to have overseen a highly organised network responsible for some 60,000 bulk text messages and 30,000 calls relating to the supply of Class A drugs.
In his letter, Dr Shastri-Hurst asked the Attorney-General to consider referring the case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme, arguing that “the scale, sophistication and sustained nature of the offending give rise to serious questions as to whether the sentences fully reflect the harm caused and the offenders’ culpability.”
Dr Shastri-Hurst said:
“Residents across Solihull are rightly concerned about the blight of drug crime on our communities. Public confidence in our justice system depends on ensuring that those who orchestrate serious, organised offending receive sentences that match the gravity of their crimes.”
He added that he hopes the Attorney General will give the case “the serious consideration it deserves” to ensure justice is done and seen to be done.
