Washington shooting: Man jailed for attempted murder

John Dees pleaded guilty to attempted murder

A man who shot someone in a "bustling" street during the day and left him for dead has been jailed.

John Dees fired at the man, with whom he had been involved in a dispute, with a sawn-off shotgun on Blue House Lane, Washington, Tyne and Wear, in October.

The 33-year-old, of no fixed address, had pleaded guilty to attempted murder and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life at an earlier hearing.

He was sentenced to 21 years by a judge at Newcastle Crown Court.

Dees also admitted criminal damage in relation to a police cell.

The victim was shot at point-blank range

The court was told the victim was in a vehicle which had stopped outside the One Stop Shop, on Blue House Lane.

Dees, who had been following, sounding his horn and acting aggressively, also pulled over and beckoned the victim over to the passenger door of his car where he shot him at point-blank range.

The man suffered severe injuries including a large gunshot wound to his chest, shattered ribs and damage to his liver.

Dees fled the scene, and attempted to cover his tracks by removing his car's metallic black wrap and shaving his head to change his appearance, but was soon arrested.

Dees removed the metallic black wrap from his car

Speaking after sentencing, Det Sgt Steven Brown, of Northumbria Police, said: "This was a cold and pre-meditated shooting, committed in the heart of our community in broad daylight where families were nearby.

"It is nothing short of miraculous that the victim survived from his injuries - we could so easily have been dealing with a murder investigation.

"John Dees proved that he is a danger to society - there can be absolutely no question that the streets of Washington are safer with him now behind bars."

The shooting took place in "a bustling Washington street", police said