Prison inmate allegedly suggested his Sheffield cousin should carry out a shooting
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Sheffield Crown Court has heard during an on-going trial how Joshua Mottershead, Niki Haycock, Demi Dunford and Molly Mayer have denied conspiring to murder Ryan Ducker following two reported drive-by shootings near Arbourthorne, in Sheffield.
Stephen Wood QC, prosecuting, claimed Miss Dunford and Miss Mayer recruited Mr Mottershead and Mr Haycock before the two men were involved in two reported drive-by shootings on mistaken targets at occupied homes on Errington Avenue and Aylward Road after 9.30pm, on June 30.
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Hide AdMr Mottershead initially claimed he had been at home but said there had been a feud between relatives and Ryan Ducker. However, Mr Mottershead later accepted he was the car passenger who discharged a gun at both houses but claims his only motivation was to cause fear.
Mr Wood told the jury on January 27 that Mr Mottershead had previously made a prison visit to his cousin Stephen Dunford, who was remanded in custody in relation two firearm offences, and authorisation had been granted for the police to record visits covertly.
Mr Mottershead and Stephen Dunford’s girlfriend at the time visited Stephen Dunford on March 2, 2020, according to Mr Wood, and there was a conversation between them.
Mr Wood claimed that during a conversation with Mr Mottershead, Stephen Dunford said: “Them bullets what you’ve got. They need using. Even if it’s two through someone’s window. Quick ‘ting’, in and out.”
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Hide AdMr Wood said the Errington Road property was subsequently shot at four times through the living room window and during the incident at Aylward Road four bullets hit the rear wall and one went into the kitchen.
Mr Wood added CCTV captured a Vauxhall Astra at both addresses and the sound of four shots and then six.
Further footage later showed a car pulling up near Park Spring Drive, Sheffield, before two males ran off, and later footage showed two people arriving in the same area when the vehicle erupted in flames.
Mr Haycock claimed he had been with his girlfriend Molly Mayer at her home.
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Hide AdMr Wood also claimed Miss Dunford had been travelling by taxi just after the shootings while communicating by phone with Mr Mottershead before she allegedly met a man called Jason Brough and the Astra was set alight.
Mr Mottershead, aged 21, of St Aidan’s Avenue, Sheffield, Mr Haycock, aged 22, of Ironside Close, Sheffield, Miss Dunford, aged 24, of Derby Street, Sheffield, and Miss Mayer, aged 22, of Callow Drive, Sheffield, have all pleaded not guilty to conspiring to commit murder and not guilty to conspiring to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Miss Dunford is also accused of torching a Vauxhall Astra car near Park Spring Drive, close to Norfolk Park, Sheffield, with another man after it had allegedly been used in the reported shootings.
Miss Dunford has also pleaded not guilty to arson but Jason Brough, aged 50, of Cambridge Lodge, Kent Road, Heeley, Sheffield, has pleaded guilty to arson.
The trial continues.
