"Loyal lieutenant" of Sheffield gangster Stephen Dunford jailed after street shooting

Sheffield Crown Court heard on December 21 how Matthew Herring, aged 23, formerly of Abney Road, Heeley, Sheffield, had been captured on CCTV with a group in an alleyway near Farish Place and Denson Close, Heeley, before running out with his arm extended as shots were fired at a man in a vehicle.

Abigail Langford, prosecuting, said a member of the public described hearing five shots and the intended target told police he was heading to Gleadless Road and saw two males before hearing four-to-five gunshots and doing a quick u-turn to escape.

Ms Langford added Herring was seen to run from the alleyway with his arm extended as shots were fired and bullet holes were found in a sign and a vehicle was damaged.

Judge Jeremy Richardson QC told Herring: “There was a shooting incident in which you were involved on May 14, 2020, at Denson Close, Heeley. It was approximately 10pm at night. You were part of a group that opened fire in a suburban public street.”

Ms Langford added Herring dropped a mobile phone which had drug-dealing messages.

Police and Judge Richardson confirmed Herring was part of criminal gang led by convicted gunman Stephen Dunford, aged 26, formerly of Fellbrigg Road, Sheffield, who was jailed for life in October after he was found guilty of attempted murder after the drive-by shooting of a 12-year-old boy in Arbourthorne in January.

Police had also raided an address at Carter Place, off Cambridge Road, Sheffield, in April where they found a Browning rifle and ammunition and they also raided an address at Kent Road, Sheffield, in June and found a sawn-off shotgun.

Ms Langford said Herring was linked to these weapons by his DNA and Judge Richardson concluded Herring had been harbouring the weapons for the gang.

Herring pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and to participating in an organised crime group. He also admitted possessing a Browning rifle without a certificate, possessing firearm ammunition without a certificate and possessing a prohibited sawn-off shotgun.

Judge Richardson told Herring: “You were part of a gang which used when necessary guns on the streets of this major city. It was all connected with gangland drug-dealing.

"Guns kill, cause terrible injuries, intimidate and threaten not only other gang members but ordinary members of the public.

"Those who use guns or participate in criminality related to guns to perpetrate gang-related drug crime will be punished severly when they are brought to justice.”

He told Herring: “I am satisfied you held a position equivalent to a loyal lieutenant within the Dunford gang. You fulfilled the role of quartermaster taking care of guns and arranging hiding places for them when necessary.”

Judge Richardson sentenced Herring to 14 years of custody.

He added: “The streets of this city must not be allowed to become the venue to gangland violence involving guns. The protection of the public and the punishment of those who have committed serious criminal acts are the twin paramount concerns of this court.”

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