Eight men convicted after shooting at South Shields home

Paul Momat and right-hand man Joseph Millward initiated a plot which saw the gun fired at a home in South Shields in a bid to “lay down a warning” to a rival, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

The pair enlisted London-based criminal Colin Crawley and associate James Townsend to be architects of the daylight shooting with Caspian Bhinder working as a middle man.

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Following weeks of planning by the co-conspirators, two men – shooter Stefan Simpson and Ashlee McKenzie – travelled 300 miles from London to South Shields to carry out the offence.

They executed their plan on September 16, 2021 on Heaton Gardens with Simpson discharging a handgun at an address just moments after the victim had stepped outside his front door. No one was hurt in the incident.

Top (L-R): Paul Momat, Joseph Millward, Colin Crawley & James Townsend. Bottom: Caspian Bhinder, Stefan Simpson, Ashlee McKenzie, Tyran Baglin. (Image: NORTHUMBRIA POLICE)

Simpson and McKenzie stayed in Gateshead and used a stolen car arranged by Tyran Baglin.

Detectives spent hours poring over CCTV footage tracing the suspects movements, including video showing the moment the gun was fired.

Following the shooting Northumbria Police and the Metropolitan Police carried out a series of dawn raids in South Tyneside and London with a number of suspects arrested.

Phones, weapons and cash were seized from various addresses, including £30,000 from Crawley’s home and £6,000 from an address associated to Momat.

The gun used in the shooting. (Image: NORTHUMBRIA POLICE)

Last Last year, four of the men – Millward, Crawley, Bhinder and Baglin – all admitted being part of a conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence when they appeared before Newcastle Crown Court.

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The remaining four – Momat, Townsend, Simpson and McKenzie – all denied their involvement but were today (Wednesday) found guilty by a jury following an 11-week trial at the same court.

A ninth man was cleared of any involvement by the jury.

Detective Superintendent Jane Fairlamb, of Northumbria Police, led the investigation into the shooting and welcomed the convictions.

She said: “This was an appalling shooting that happened on a residential street.

“The incident on Heaton Gardens was the culmination of weeks of careful planning by the co-conspirators, with each defendant trusted to play their part in its execution.

“While nobody was ultimately hurt in this incident, it is clear that this type of behaviour is totally unacceptable and today’s outcome should send a strong message to everyone – we will not tolerate serious violence on our streets.”

All eight men convicted have been remanded in custody and will be sentenced at the same court from March 16. They are:

• Paul Momat, 36, of Owen Drive, West Boldon, found guilty of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence
• Joseph Millward, 29, of Davy Close, Hebburn, admitted conspiracy to possess firearm with intent to cause fear of violence
• Colin Crawley, 46, of Woodall Court, Croydon, admitted conspiracy to possess firearm with intent to cause fear of violence
• James Townsend, 45, of Hawksmoor Road, Oxford, found guilty of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence
• Caspian Bhinder, 33, of Babbington Road, Streatham, admitted conspiracy to possess firearm with intent to cause fear of violence
• Stefan Simpson, 24, of St Matthew’s Road, London, found guilty of conspiracy to possess firearm with intent to cause fear of violence
• Ashlee McKenzie, 33, of Wandsworth Road, Lambeth, found guilty of conspiracy to possess firearm with intent to cause fear of violence
• Tyran Baglin, 24, of no fixed abode, admitted conspiracy to possess firearm with intent to cause fear of violence

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