A MAN who was accidentally shot in the crotch by a bungling hitman he hired to kill a rival was jailed for ten years yesterday.

Thomas "Tommy" Anderson, 48, was standing behind intended target Stanley Creswell when the bullet passed through Mr Creswell's arm, hit a garden gate and went into Anderson's groin.

Anderson, his brother William "Billy" Anderson and nephew William "Ike" Anderson had paid gunman Arthur Pattinson to kill Mr Creswell following a long-running feud.

Christopher Knox, prosecuting, told jurors at Newcastle Crown Court that Pattinson, 43, had been hired to kill Mr Creswell, 37, following a feud with Ike Anderson, 30, over £60,000.

All four men denied being involved in the assassination plot, but were found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to murder.

Ike Anderson, his father and Pattinson were each jailed for 14 years by Mr Justice Holland.

Pattinson had been recruited to carry out the hit and had been in regular contact with the Andersons by phone.

On the day of the shooting, Mr Creswell left his home in Clydesdale Street, Hetton-le-Hole, Wearside, and went to confront Tommy Anderson at his home about an earlier altercation.

The gunman arrived as planned, and took aim while Creswell was at Tommy Anderson's garden gate.

Ike Anderson, of High Street, Easington Lane, Tommy Anderson, of Borrowdale Street, Hetton-le-Hole, Billy Anderson, of High Street, Easington Lane, and Pattinson, of Striding Edge, Washington, Wearside, all denied conspiracy to murder throughout the trial.

Ike Anderson had already admitted two charges of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence relating to threats made to Mr Creswell and his friends before the shooting.

Mr Justice Holland told them: "This case has particularly serious features. It involves sustained planning over several days and it involves gang warfare, the settlement of disputes by violence and associated threats and intimidation."