Woman reported a blazing car which had allegedly been used in two drive-by shootings in Sheffield

A witness told a court she saw a car ablaze in her neighbourhood after it had allegedly been used in two drive-by shootings.
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An on-going Sheffield Crown Court trial has heard how Joshua Mottershead, Niki Haycock, Demi Dunford and Molly Mayer have all denied conspiring to murder Ryan Ducker following two drive-by shootings near Arbourthorne, in Sheffield.

Stephen Wood QC, prosecuting, claimed Miss Dunford and Miss Mayer had recruited Mr Mottershead and Mr Haycock before the two men were involved in two drive-by shootings on mistaken targets at homes on Errington Avenue and Aylward Road after 9.30pm, on June 30.

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He added Miss Dunford allegedly torched the Vaxhall Astra car near Park Spring Drive, close to Norfolk Park, Sheffield, with another man after it had allegedly been used in the reported shootings.

Sheffield Crown Court, pictured, heard how a woman reported a blazing car to the emergency services after it had allegedly been used in two drive-by shootings.Sheffield Crown Court, pictured, heard how a woman reported a blazing car to the emergency services after it had allegedly been used in two drive-by shootings.
Sheffield Crown Court, pictured, heard how a woman reported a blazing car to the emergency services after it had allegedly been used in two drive-by shootings.

The witness, whose identity was protected by a screen, told the trial on January 19 she had been at home with her partner when she heard a screeching noise and about ten minutes later the couple heard a loud smashing sound.

She said: “It seemed like a really fast car coming around. A lot of people where I live drive but we do not get cars that drive really fast but that is what it seemed like.”

The witness added: “We got back in bed and carried on watching telly and then we heard a sound like a smash.”

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She said her partner told her he had seen two people get out of the car about ten minutes before they heard a smashing sound which she believed was the car windows being affected by the fire.

She said: “I saw a car set on fire across on the lay-by and I think the big smash was the windows setting on fire and it was near where the trees were and I was panicking it was going to set fire to the bushes.”

The witness, who called the emergency services, added she saw a person she believed to be a male near the car after it had been seen ablaze and she identified the vehicle as a silver-coloured Vauxhall Astra with a missing number plate.

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.

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Mr 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.

Dunford has pleaded not guilty to arson but Jason Brough, aged 50, of Cambridge Lodge, Kent Road, Heeley, Sheffield, has pleaded guilty to arson.

Mr Wood also claimed Molly Mayer set up a false alibi for her partner Mr Haycock who claimed he had been with her at her home. Mr Mottershead accepts he was the car passenger who discharged a gun at both houses but claims his motivation was only to cause fear.

The trial continues.

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

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