Men plead guilty after 'mistaken identity' shooting

Simeon Bernard misfired a gun and shot the victim in his leg

Two men who travelled more than 60 miles on motorbikes to the home of a man who was shot in a case of "mistaken identity" have admitted their part in the attack.

Simeon Bernard, 39, and Darren Atkins, 42, drove from Birmingham to Gloucester on 18 January, the day the victim was shot in the leg during a confrontation with three men.

Bernard, of Knightwick Crescent, Birmingham, and Atkins of Hastings Road, Birmingham, admitted to offences relating to the shooting at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday and are due to be sentenced on Friday.

Richard Posner, prosecuting, said in his opening speech the attack was "a dangerous and almost fatal case of mistaken identity".

At 21:00 GMT on the day of the attack, the victim, aged in his 40s, opened the door to a man who pointed a gun at him.

The victim pushed the gun away and chased the man down his driveway, where two motorcyclists were waiting on their bikes.

The victim was able to push both the bikes over, and the gun was picked up off the floor by Bernard who misfired and shot the victim in the leg.

During the confrontation, the victim's wife was also injured by a ricochet when she ran outside to help her husband.

Bernard, Atkins and a third unidentified man rode off on the two motorbikes.

The victim has since undergone numerous operations to remove the bullet and realign his leg.

Darren Atkins also travelled down from Birmingham on a motorbike to Gloucester

Gloucestershire Police said it launched a large-scale trawl of CCTV to trace the movements of the motorbikes in its investigations, and the two men were arrested at their home addresses on 20 March.

Mr Posner said the victim was "an innocent man who lived on that road, a man who was not the intended target".

Bernard admitted wounding with intent, possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Atkins pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Det Insp Paula Hannaford from Gloucestershire Police said: "This was a horrific incident for a family who we believe were not the intended target, and that this was a case of mistaken identity.

"The actions of the three men will have a lasting impact on the victims."

Anyone with information about the unidentified third suspect has been urged to contact police.