Four members of a criminal gang, including a man from North Wales, have been sentenced to life imprisonment for their roles in a cold-blooded conspiracy to murder a teenager. The victim, only 18 years old at the time, was ambushed in a targeted attack that left him with life-changing facial injuries.
The coordinated plot culminated in a brutal shooting in a car park on Gosford Street, Coventry, last September. Alyxander Fraser, 35, of Rhyl, Denbighshire, joined forces with three accomplices—Mohammed Khan, 32, Nicholas Buckley, 36, and Adam Bhayat, 36—to orchestrate the hit. Detailed planning preceded the attack, with the group meticulously discussing the specific methods and timings required to execute their victim.
On the day of the assault, the four men rendezvoused before moving toward the scene. Bhayat acted as the driver, transporting Buckley and Fraser to the car park. Upon arriving, they cornered the teenager and opened fire with a shotgun at close range. Miraculously, the victim survived the blast, though he suffered severe, life-altering injuries to his face.
Immediately following the shooting, the attackers fled the scene in a stolen VW Golf. They sought refuge at a flat belonging to Khan, where they regrouped before parting ways the following morning.
West Midlands Police launched an extensive investigation into the shooting, scouring hours of CCTV footage to track the movements of the suspects. The breakthrough evidence led officers to identify and arrest all four men shortly after the incident. They were subsequently charged with conspiracy to commit murder and, following a trial at Warwick Crown Court, were convicted this past May.
The gang appeared for sentencing on September 4, where the gravity of their crimes was reflected in the life sentences handed down by the court:
- Nicholas Buckley, 36, of Broomfield Place, Coventry, was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 22 years.
- Mohammed Khan, 32, of Branksome Road, Coventry, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 20 years.
- Alyxander Fraser, 35, of Rhyl, Denbighshire, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years.
- Adam Bhayat, 36, of Lower Precinct, Coventry, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 16 years.
A spokesperson for West Midlands Police emphasized the force’s ongoing commitment to eradicating gun violence. “We work to tackle gun crime 24/7 in the West Midlands,” the spokesperson said. “Firearms officers continue to work alongside dedicated teams of detectives to identify, disrupt, and arrest those suspected of being involved in armed criminality.”
The sentences mark the end of a harrowing legal process for the victim, who continues to deal with the long-term physical and psychological trauma caused by the targeted ambush.
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