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How far immersed Yaqub was in the underworld is disputed. Former detective turned criminal investigator Mark Williams-Thomas says a source told him that a few days before his death, Yaqub

had held a gun to a woman’s head. Others have described him as violent and aggressive and photos have emerged of him posing with convicted criminals.  His family and friends, however,

believe that although Yaqub had become intoxicated by the danger and thrill associated with gangland life, he was still an outsider. Abdul Aziz, 50, who watched him grow up, said: “Yassar

was a nice kid at heart but he kept bad company and that is probably what killed him. “He was spoilt rotten by his parents. They gave him anything he wanted, money, cars, the lot. “He didn’t

need crime because he already had the riches but that made him a target for other youths in the area who knew they could bully him.  “By having powerful friends, not only did he have

protection but he also had perceived respect and kudos around town. “People have described him as a feared drug dealer and a gangster but that’s nonsense to be honest. He was fairly small in

height and he lived with his parents. The flash cars were bought by his father, although the Lamborghini he has been pictured with was not his, he hired it for his sister’s wedding. “That’s

not to say he was an angel because he wasn’t. He fell in with a bad crowd.”  Another close friend, Sajid Khadim, 38, said: “I know that a few years ago he used to hang around with a gang

who had a bad reputation. “Occasionally they’d lean on him for money and he’d usually oblige but they fell out and he refused to give them any more. The row escalated and two men went round

to his house and waited for him to come out. “When he did they shot at the ground with a shotgun to make him ‘dance’ to avoid being hit.”  Shortly before his death, Yaqub had attended a

meeting with associates in Bradford and was returning home. Acting on intelligence, West Yorkshire Police intercepted a convoy of vehicles, including a silver Audi driven by Yaqub, on a slip

road off the M62. Three shots were fired and Yaqub was killed. The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating.