Two Sheffield families left horrified after coming under fire from "drive-by shootings"

Two families narrowly escaped being shot at two homes after they came under fire from “drive-by shootings”.
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A Sheffield Crown Court trial heard on January 8 how Joshua Mottershead, Niki Haycock, Demi Dunford and Molly Mayer have denied conspiring to murder Ryan Ducker following reports of two drive-by shootings near Arbourthorne, in Sheffield.

The accused allegedly targeted the wrong properties after shootings were reported on Errington Avenue about 9.30pm, on June 30, and on Aylward Road about twenty minutes later.

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Stephen Wood QC, prosecuting, said Dean Goodderham had been in his living room at Errington Avenue and his wife and son had been upstairs when he was woken by gunfire and suffered a cut – possibly from glass.

Sheffield Crown Court, pictured, has heard how four people have denied beng involved in a conspiracy to commit murder after two-drive by shootings were reported in Sheffield.Sheffield Crown Court, pictured, has heard how four people have denied beng involved in a conspiracy to commit murder after two-drive by shootings were reported in Sheffield.
Sheffield Crown Court, pictured, has heard how four people have denied beng involved in a conspiracy to commit murder after two-drive by shootings were reported in Sheffield.

Mr Wood said: “He jumped up and realised that there was blood on his face and his initial reaction was that he had been shot and so he ran out of the living room and shouted upstairs to his wife and son.”

The family saw holes in the window and back wall after four gunshots, accordng to Mr Wood.

Mr Wood claimed the intended target had been Ryan Ducker but Mr Goodderham had done a house-swap with his daughter who was the partner of Mr Ducker and they lived on the opposite side of the road.

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Ryan Ducker’s partner said she saw a car driven by Niki Haycock with Joshua Mottershead as a passenger and claimed Mr Mottershead put his arm out as she heard four bangs.

Police were called out to Errington Avenue, Sheffield, after reports of a drive-by shooting upon a family home.Police were called out to Errington Avenue, Sheffield, after reports of a drive-by shooting upon a family home.
Police were called out to Errington Avenue, Sheffield, after reports of a drive-by shooting upon a family home.

Sarah Gilchrist and her daughter and Ms Gilchrist’s sister and her two children had been at Ms Gilchrist’s home on Aylward Road when four bullets hit the rear wall of the living room and one hit the kitchen.

Mr Wood said Ms Gilchrist grabbed her daughter and her sister ran to her baby which had been showered with glass.

The case is about gangs, according to Mr Wood, and Mr Mottershead and Mr Haycock were the gunmen and Miss Dunford and Miss Mayer played significant roles before and after the shootings.

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He said CCTV captured a Vauxhall Astra and recorded four shots and then six shots.

Mr Wood claimed Molly Mayer gave a false alibi for partner Mr Haycock, and Miss Dunford had been communicating with Mr Mottershead and had been involved in torching the Astra near Park Spring Drive with a man called Jason Brough.

Mr Mottershead claimed he had been at home but there had been a feud between relatives and Ryan Ducker. Mr Haycock claimed he had been with Molly Mayer at her home.

However, Mr Wood said Mr Mottershead now accepts he was the passenger who discharged a gun but claims he only aimed to cause fear.

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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 21, of Callow Drive, Sheffield, have pleaded not guilty to conspiring to commit murder and not guilty to conspiring to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Miss Dunford has 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.

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Four people have denied conspiring to commit murder after two drive-by shootings...

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