A shooting victim who repeatedly misled police because he was terrified about retribution from his attackers was jailed yesterday for perverting the course of justice.
Sanjeev Bhanot, who was almost killed when a bullet tore through his stomach a year ago, had to be helped to the court cells after a judge was told that he still refused to tell the truth about the incident in the north London suburb of Harrow.
Sending the 29-year-old businessman to prison for three months, Judge Christopher Elwen said a prison sentence was essential "in the current circumstances of gun crime in London".
Bhanot's lies, which he persisted with in spite of terrible injuries, had left a serious crime unsolved and a firearm in the hands of criminals, he said.
Bhanot, of Southall, Middlesex, admitted the charge and was jailed for three months, in spite of a plea from defence counsel Julia Hackworth that prison would be "a very heavy penalty indeed".
The court heard that Bhanot had been in traction for four weeks while his injuries were treated in hospital and was still suffering from the after-effects of the shooting.
No comments:
Post a Comment