Sheffield man accused of attempting to murder a boy allegedly bragged about the shooting during a Facebook rap from custody

Stephen Dunford, aged 25, of Fellbrigg Road, Arbourthorne, Sheffield, and Devon Gregory, 23, of Heeley Green, Heeley, Sheffield, had allegedly been armed with guns in a Ford Focus which passed the 12-year-old boy as he was shot in the left thigh, according to a Sheffield Crown Court trial.

Prosecuting barrister Stephen Wood QC told the trial on August 13 that following Dunford’s arrest the complainant’s father noticed Dunford on social media using his phone call in custody to do a rap bragging about the shooting which matched the complainant’s description of Dunford’s voice sounding like a gangster.

Mr Wood told the jury: “Stephen Dunford was performing a rap from prison where he was being held.”

He added: “It was the content of that rap that was the most interesting. You may think the most disturbing. Dunford begins by discussing his predicament, ‘If I don’t bust case, it’s life in the can’.

"The prosecution say he goes on to talk about the shooting. What is obvious from the clip is that this shooting of the 12-year-old boy is something that he was bragging about.”

Mr Wood highlighted that, after the shooting, the 12-year-old boy recognised Dunford’s voice as being like a gangster’s, and added the rap provides an opportunity to identify the defendant.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been meeting friends outside DJ’s sandwich shop on Northern Avenue, Arbourthorne, at about 3.30pm on January 12 when he was shot, according to Mr Wood, but he may not have been the intended target.

Mr Wood said the complainant described a hooded front-seat passenger cocking an Uzi-like gun as Dunford and he claimed to recognise his voice.

The complainant claimed he saw another hooded offender in the back seat with a shotgun and a gold chain whom the prosecution claim was Devon Gregory.

Mr Wood said this shotgun was found at a drug addict’s flat and had DNA traces of a third defendant, Brandon Bailey, 26, of Manor Park Way, Manor Park, Sheffield, but the prosecution does not say Bailey was in the car during the alleged drive-by shooting.

However, police also recovered £19,970 from Bailey’s home in cash, according to Mr Wood, and it is claimed this is from the proceeds of crime.

Dunford was also linked to a shooting incident on Northcote Avenue, Meersbrook, where a bullet was found in a vehicle tyre and an Audi was seen after Dunford had previously hired an Audi.

Dunford claimed he was at his grandparents’ on Myrtle Road at the time of the shooting but Mr Wood said phone cell site investigations indicated he was not at Myrtle Road.

Dunford and Gregory have pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and not guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. Dunford also pleaded not guilty to a further charge of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life after the Northcote Avenue incident.

Dunford, Gregory and Bailey have also denied conspiracy to endanger life and Bailey has denied possessing criminal property.