Three men have been jailed for 32 years following a shooting in Hyde

The sentences follow an incident last year where shots were fired at a vehicle and a man was "sliced" across the head with a knife.

Yesterday (Tuesday 4 June 2019) at Manchester Crown Court, Jake Ryan, 22, of Combermere Street, Dukinfield, was sentenced to 13 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, section 18 wounding and possession with intent to supply class A drugs.  

Sean Beddow, 22, of Stenson Square in Openshaw, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and section 18 wounding, and he was sentenced to 11 years and four months in prison.

Jurhys Skeene, 18, of Richmond Hill, Hyde pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited weapon and conspiracy to rob and he was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Around 2.30pm on Thursday 18 October 2018, a woman and a man in their 20s were driving along Market Street in Hyde when they were followed by another car - a stolen blue Vauxhall Adam on false number plates - which was being driven by Ryan. Witnesses reported seeing Beddow hanging out the passenger window brandishing a handgun, before firing shots at the vehicle they were pursuing.

The occupants of the targeted vehicle were unharmed, but the rear window and passenger side door of the car were damaged in the shooting.

Shortly afterwards a man in his 20s was in a car on Market Street, Hyde when Beddow and Ryan threatened him and demanded he get out of his vehicle. The victim refused, and Ryan sliced the man across the head with a knife. Beddow and Ryan then fled empty-handed. The man required hospital treatment but his injuries were thankfully not serious.

Enquiries to trace the offenders – who fled from the scene in the blue Vauxhall Adam – began and descriptions of Ryan and Beddow were circulated to officers. Around four hours later, officers spotted Beddow in a taxi on Hyde Road, Gorton.

The taxi was stopped by officers and Beddow, Ryan and Skeene were arrested.

The key for the Vauxhall Adam was found close to where the trio were detained, and when the car was found nearby and searched, officers discovered a large knife in the footwell.

At Jake Ryan’s home address, officers found a jumper in the washing machine which concealed 21 wraps of heroin worth an estimated £420.

At Skeene’s home address officers discovered a holdall bag which contained a shotgun and 13 live shotgun rounds. A handgun was also found in the house along with ammunition.

Detective Constable Rick McIvor, of GMP’s Tameside district, said: “Many lives were put at risk at the hands of these men when they fired a gun in the middle of the afternoon on a busy street, and it is just by sheer luck that no one was seriously injured.

“The level of violence and the disregard these young men showed for the public’s safety is truly shocking.

“I would like to thank all the people who came forward with information, as without their assistance throughout this case today’s result would not have been possible.

“I hope this case shows just how seriously we take gun and drug crime in Greater Manchester, and our continued commitment to bring those responsible for this type of criminality to justice.”