Gang member guilty of shooting 12-year-old boy outside Sheffield sandwich shop in case of mistaken identity

The 12-year-old boy was stood with a group of friends outside a sandwich shop on Northern Avenue in Arbourthorne, Sheffield, when gang member Stephen Dunford fired the gun on January 12.

Despite having a bullet wound to his leg, the boy miraculously managed to run home to alert his father who immediately called emergency services.

Another boy in the group, which had met that afternoon to go to the cinema, escaped serious injuries by a hair's breadth when a bullet struck the hood of his jacket, narrowly missing his head and neck.

Dunford, of Fellbrigg Road, pleaded not guilty to the shooting, giving police a false alibi that he had been having Sunday dinner with his grandparents on the afternoon with the shooting.

While remanded, Dunford even made a phone call from prison in which he rapped about his involvement in the shooting with lyrics referring to a child being hit by a stray bullet.

He was found guilty at Sheffield Crown Court of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life following a six-week trial.

Detectives said the shooting could easily have resulted in the death of an innocent child bystander.

He was also found guilty of an additional count of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life in connection to a firearms discharge on 10 January on Northcote Avenue.

Another man, Brandon Bailey, 26, of Manor Park Way, was also found guilty of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life. He had previously pleaded guilty to possession of criminal property on 27 August.

A third man, Devon Gregory, 23, of Heeley Green, who was charged with conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life, was found not guilty and acquitted of all charges.

Detective Chief Inspector Jade Brice, investigating, said: “Perhaps the most compelling evidence against Dunford was a confession, made whilst he was on remand.

“During a phone call from prison, Dunford recited a rap that he had written himself, containing lyrics about his involvement in the shooting, in which a ‘youth was hit by a stray’, a reference to a bullet.

“The phone call was recorded and after being shared on social media, was seized by officers investigating the incident.”

The white Ford Focus used in the drive-by shooting was later recovered on Clough Road in Sheffield, with analysis revealing it had been reported stolen from West Yorkshire in November last year.

Det Chief Insp Brice added: “Dunford is likely to now spend a significant period of time in prison and I know this will be a great relief to the Sheffield community and particularly the people of Arbourthorne.

“We could quite easily be talking about the death of a 12-year-old, thankfully that is not the case.

“Dunford’s actions sent shockwaves through a community who should not have to tolerate this type of behaviour on their streets."

Dunford and Bailey will be sentenced on October 2.

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today.

Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you'll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers.

So, please - if you can - pay for our work. Just £5 per month is the starting point. If you think that which we are trying to achieve is worth more, you can pay us what you think we are worth. By doing so, you will be investing in something that is becoming increasingly rare. Independent journalism that cares less about right and left and more about right and wrong. Journalism you can trust.

Thank you

James Mitchinson (Editor)