28 February 2024 , 09:13
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A teenager who was part of a team who fired several bullets into a home as a mum and son slept inside called a judge a “fat nonce” as he was led to the cells.
Reece Martin and Anthony Milton, both 19, unleashed a volley of gunshots at the family home in West Derby as part of an ongoing "vendetta". Liverpool Crown Court was told occupant Joanne Maclean was woken at around 8.15am on October 19 last year by two bangs and glass smashing. Realising her home was being shot at, she called out to her son to stay in his room before a car sped away. Several cartridges were found in the house and after an investigation Martin and Milton were arrested, Liverpool Echo reported.
Lee Bonner, prosecuting, said: “This was clearly a pre-meditated and planned attack on the home of the Maclean family. Several shots were fired into an occupied residential address, where an occupant was in bed in a room that was fired into.”
Martin and Milton admitted possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life, possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition during an earlier hearing. Judge Denis Watson sentenced them both on Tuesday to 12 years in jail with another five on licence.
Martin shouted "fat nonce" as he was being led down to the cells prompting Judge Watson to order he be brought back into court as a result. He said: "Having passed sentence, as Mr Martin was being taken down, he felt it appropriate or necessary to shout out 'nonce' as he left which, on the face of it, would have to be considered as being directed at me.
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Anthony Milton was also jailed (Merseyside Police)"Shouting out abuse in court is a contempt of court. Where there is contempt of court, if it is sufficiently serious, there can be an additional prison sentence up to two years." Judge Watson then invited Martin to address the court, at which point he said "sorry for the words I made".
Earlier Watson and Milton had been seen laughing and joking as the judge summed up. He said: “"Do you find this funny? Do you find it funny? Why were you laughing? Is it funny to hear what you did read back to you?
"It was a highly dangerous and outrageous attack. Ms Maclean, no doubt with commendable bravery, wishes to emphasise you and those you were working with have not won. I have no doubt, for those present, it will live with them for a number of years. You are both still 19. Both of you have further difficulties, and this does have some further impact on your maturity and decision making.
"You chose to be part of a vendetta against someone who chose to stand up for their employee, whose face had been slashed. You equipped yourself with a firearm and ammunition and set out for the Macleans' home. In broad daylight, you fired five shots into the occupants' house. It is by chance no one was injured or killed."
A police officer stands guard at the scene in Liverpool (Liverpool Echo)Merseyside Police's firearms investigation team, said following the sentencing: "Today’s sentencing removes two dangerous people from the community and should serve as a strong warning to anyone who would look to get involved in gun crime. To carry and use a gun can and will ruin lives, both of the victims and those offenders who make such a choice.
"In this case, the sheer recklessness of firing a weapon at a home is clear to see. We have tragically seen such incidents result in serious injuries and death in the past, and it is through luck alone this was not the case in October.
“Martin and Milton will now begin a significant sentence, and the communities of North Liverpool are undoubtedly safer as a result. Our team proactively and relentlessly investigates all such serious incidents, as well as assessing and acting on all information we receive about the storage and movement of firearms in Merseyside.”