Canvey Island car chase shooting: Two men jailed

Callum Hutchins, 21, and Conall Regan, 22, were each jailed for 11 years

Two men who opened fire on another car during a high-speed chase have been jailed for 11 years.

Callum Hutchins, 21, and Conall Regan, 22, repeatedly rammed the Volkswagen Golf and shot out the windows with a sawn-off shotgun, injuring two men inside.

The victims were going home after a night out in Canvey Island, Essex, on 6 August.

Hutchins and Regan were convicted at Basildon Crown Court.

The pair were in a Ford S-Max car, which was later found set alight, when they launched the attack in Somnes Avenue.

Members of the public called police shortly before 03:25 BST with reports that the Volkswagen driver had been found injured inside his car.

One of the victims, aged 23, had four pellets embedded in his neck and one in his face, while the other man, aged 20, suffered head and knee injuries.

The driver left the scene before police arrived and his identity is still unknown.

The shooting happened on 6 August in the north of Canvey Island

The defendants were both found guilty of wounding with intent to commit grievous bodily harm, and of two charges of attempted wounding.

Hutchins was found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, while Regan was found guilty of conspiracy to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Jurors cleared both of three charges of attempted murder.

Speaking after the trial at Basildon Crown Court, Det Ch Insp Jon Burgess of Essex Police said the incident caused "significant fear".

He said: "Not only was it a miracle that those being shot at were not killed, but also that members of the public were not seriously injured.