A man who laughed when shooting his Wigan neighbour after an argument flared over misbehaving children was jailed today for eight years.
David Mitchell, 30, Calder Road, Norley Hall, had earlier pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence.
Another man, Sean Anthony Nolan, 26, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender and was sentenced yesterday to three years in jail.
The argument escalated after Mitchell argued with his girlfriend and a family after a parent had told off someone else’s child.
On Friday April 5, Mitchell was seen arguing in the street with the 29-year-old victim and berated him about the incident. As he walked Mitchell shouted: “Watch, I’m gonna get me gun now and shoot you!”
At around 8pm that day Mitchell, Nolan and another man went into Norley Shop and Save on and bought black hats and gloves, approached the victim’s house and fired a shotgun twice, once hitting the house and once hitting the victim then ran away laughing and said: “I’ve done what I needed to do!”
Detective Constable Cathy Gerrard, of GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: “Mitchell’s attempt to resolve a neighbourhood dispute with a firearm has landed him in jail for a considerable term.
“Mitchell must have known his actions would have a shocking effect on the local community.
“No-one wants to live where people like Mitchell can march round and settle arguments with a firearm.
“Thankfully, they no longer have to as Mitchell, and his accomplice Nolan, are where they belong – jail.”
The victim has now made a full recovery after he was found to have pellet wound injuries to his leg and a cut to his forehead.
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