Eight men are to be sentenced today for their part in a shooting over a £200,000 cannabis farm.

Preston Crown Court heard yesterday (Thursday, November 10) how the defendants, referred to as the ‘Manchester Group’, were called upon to assist after word got out that a substantial cannabis farm housed in a property in Salus Street, Burnley, was about to be infiltrated by a gang known as the ‘Burnley Group’.

On the night of February 5, 2021, CCTV footage showed the ‘Burnley Group’ in the vicinity of Salus Street, intent on stealing the cannabis grow.

Prosecuting, James Gelsthorpe told the court how phone calls were then made, first to a man named Besim Zeka, who was involved with the grow, with Zeka then making further phone calls to others linked to the cannabis farm.

Mr Gelsthorpe said: “Zeka, Elion Gllava, Ibrahim Beldie and Andon Bita, then travelled from their homes in the Manchester area through to Burnley together with three other individuals, who were not identified by the police.

“They travelled in three cars, in convoy, and a series of phone calls were made between the defendants in the vehicles and others, who were at the scene in Salus Street.

“The defendant’s cars arrived at around midnight and were seen travelling around Burnley for around 30 to 45 minutes, which the Crown say was done in order to seek out those intent on stealing the cannabis grow.

“The ‘Burnley Group’, having left the scene, returned at around 12.30am and it was at that point that the violence broke out.

“There were at least four gun shots fired.

“CCTV shows people from the ‘Burnley Group’ and the ‘Manchester Group’ running up Haydock Street away from Salus Street, and several of them appear to be armed with weapons – bats and machetes.

“During this, two cars, one belonging to a man from the ‘Burnley Group’, Michael Brennan, and one belonging to Bita, crash with each other.

“Shortly after this, a car belonging to Zeka also crashed with Brennan’s car.

“Brennan received an injury to the head caused by a machete, and another member of the ‘Burnley Group’, Samuel Watson was shot in the leg.”

Mr Gelsthorpe said two of the ‘Manchester Group’, Beldie and Gllava, then left the scene in a BMW 5 Series and collected several other men before making their way back to Manchester.

Bita left in a Vauxhall, but as a result of the crash, a BMW 3 Series was left in Salus Street, leaving Zeka and another two men stranded in Burnley.

Mr Gelsthorpe went on: “This is when Zeka calls Mazhar Shah who was in Manchester, to come and pick him up. Before this, attempts were made to clear the 3 Series of evidence.

“Once back in Manchester, Shah made a phone call to Gulam Rauf, with both the men travelling back to Burnley in a Honda Jazz, before CCTV shows the abandoned BMW 3 Series being set on fire.

“Shah and Rauf then travelled back to Manchester.”

A police investigation began into the Burnley shooting and during this, the cannabis grow in Salus Street was discovered, estimated to be worth between £110,000 and £210,000.

Machetes were also found, and DNA linking the burnt-out BMW to Zeka.

Police discovered evidence linking Gllava to the cannabis grow, as well as another man, Andreas Zekaqis.

In Zekaqis’ home, officers found more than 2kg of cannabis and a large quantity of cash, with more than £1,000 in Scottish bank notes. His mobile phone was seized and analysis linked him to the supply of the cannabis.

Bita’s home was searched with police finding £14,000 in cash.

An eighth man, Murtaza Ahmed, had his home searched and his name was found to be on the tenancy agreement for Salus Street, with his phone containing messages pertaining to the sale of cannabis.

All eight men were arrested in July, and following a six-week trial at Preston Crown Court in May, the group were convicted of the following:

  • Besim Zeka, 31, has a single conviction from 2015 and was convicted by jury of conspiracy to cause GBH and conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life as well as conspiracy to supply cannabis.
  • Elion Gllava, 26, of The Parklands, Stoneclough, has no previous convictions, and was convicted by jury of conspiracy to cause GBH and conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life as well as conspiracy to supply cannabis.
  • Ibrahim Beldie, 32, of Hollins Road, Oldham, has no previous convictions, and was convicted by jury of conspiracy to cause GBH and conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life as well as conspiracy to supply cannabis.
  • Andon Bita, of Ellen Wilkinson Crescent, Manchester, has no previous convictions and was convicted by jury of conspiracy to cause GBH, conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life as well as conspiracy to supply cannabis and conspiracy to possess criminal property.
  • Murtaza Ahmed, 38, of Berry Street, Brierfield, has no previous convictions and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis and conspiracy to possess criminal property.
  • Andreas Zekaqis, 31, of Acacia Road, Oldham, has no previous convictions and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis and conspiracy to possess criminal property.
  • Mazhar Shah, 40, of Alms Hill Road, Manchester, has convictions for 37 previous offences including perverting the course of justice. He pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and was found guilty by a jury of assisting an offender.
  • Gulam Rauf, 29, of Hartley Avenue, Prestwich, has previous convictions for dangerous driving and driving without insurance and pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.

Following mitigation for all eight of the defendants, Judge Philip Parry concluded proceedings for the day and asked for all concerned parties to attend this morning (Friday) with sentencing to begin at 10.30am.

A report on the sentencing will follow.