Man jailed for attempted murder with shotgun

Kieran Thomas admitted carrying out the shooting in August

A man has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for attempted murder, after he shot another man in Wolverhampton.

Kieran Thomas, 28, of Elizabeth Avenue, Wolverhampton, admitted trying to kill his intended target on 27 August, when he fired a shotgun at him by a park on Dudley Road.

The victim suffered significant injuries to his body and left arm, but was able to go to a nearby house and raise the alarm, after which he was taken to hospital, West Midlands Police said.

Thomas pleaded guilty to attempted murder and possessing a firearm with intent at Wolverhampton Crown Court in October, and was handed the sentence on 21 November.

Police used CCTV to establish that, on the night of the shooting, a dispute had happened between a number of people who Thomas knew.

He was identified as a suspect, and a warrant was carried out at an address in Wolverhampton.

Thomas fled, attempting to escape over fences and neighbouring gardens, but was detained with support from the forces' drone and dog units.

When the gardens were searched, police discovered a balaclava and glove, both of which contained a shotgun cartridge.

A further 27 cartridges were seized from the address.

"Within two weeks we'd scoured CCTV footage and, alongside mobile phone data, identified Thomas as the gunman," said Det Insp Francis Nock, from the major crime team.

"The body of evidence we presented at court was so strong he [Thomas] admitted the crime and was convicted six weeks to the day after his violent attack."