A Walsall family has been living in constant fear since a terrifying 2am shooting at their home last year, Birmingham Crown Court heard this week. The incident, which occurred on May 26 last year, has left the family desperate to leave the area.
Details of the Shooting
A revolver bullet pierced through the kitchen window in the middle of the night, ending up in the family's pantry cupboard. A second 'warning shot' was fired at the car parked on their driveway while the children slept. The attack was described by Judge Dean Kershaw as 'a clearly thought-through, planned and dangerous enterprise'. He added that it 'may have only been luck that no one was killed'.
Impact on the Family
The mother told the court: 'I'm constantly nervous and scared. I'm scared to close my blinds when I'm cooking in the kitchen, I'm scared someone is outside my house.' She added that her children no longer play outside and the family are desperate to move out of the area. 'We are scared in our own home and are looking to move out of the area,' she said.
Sentencing
Former gang member Sharif Cousins, 50, was sentenced to 12 years with an extended three years on licence, while getaway driver James Gray, 28, received nine and a half years. Both were convicted of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. Cousins, who previously held a gun to a police officer's head, intends to appeal his sentence as he 'protests his innocence'.
