Teens jailed after shots fired in 'quick succession'

Two armed teenagers fired shots in "quick succession" at their intended target as they rode a motorbike through a shopping precinct, a court heard.

Romarni Spencer and Pharrell McLennon, now both 18, fired at another teenager on a bicycle, but missed, outside the Bridgeway Centre in The Meadows, Nottingham, on 5 May last year.

CCTV from the scene was shown in court, and depicted three adults and a child rushing back into a nearby Co-op as the shots were fired.

On Friday, Spencer, of Marlborough Road, Beeston, received an extended sentence of 10-and-a-half years, while McLennon, of Maypole, Clifton, was handed an extended sentence of 13 years.

McLennon and Spencer (left to right) will spend their respective sentences in a young offenders' institution

Prosecuting, Richard Thatcher said Spencer and McLennon arrived at the scene as part of a larger group, but then separated from the crowd on a motorbike.

They headed towards the target, who was by the Co-op store in the Bridgeway Centre, and "both pointed their respective weapons at a third party", he told the court.

The pair were arrested two days later at East Midlands Airport (EMA) as they tried to flee to Spain, Nottingham Crown Court heard.

Both teenagers had both previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, the court was told.

Sentencing them, Judge James Sampson said: "You tried to shoot your intended target, both firing in quick succession. You missed your intended target.

"Emerging from this store, as events were unfolding, were a family who quickly retreated to take cover, no doubt terrified about what was unfolding."

The court also heard the guns used in the attack had never been recovered.

Spencer and McLennon will spend their respective sentences in a young offenders' institution.