Two brothers who tried to murder a mother in her home by firing a sawn-off shotgun through the window have been jailed.
Thomas and James Lee planned and carried out two shootings during a 48-hour crime spree in Newcastle in 2019.
The first incident on the night of October 3 saw the brothers fire a gun through the kitchen window of a Westerhope home following a suspected dispute with the victim’s son.
While cooking in the kitchen, the mum heard a loud bang and the window of her Fordmoss Walk home smash. She suffered serious injuries to her back, arm and face caused by shotgun pellets and flying glass.
Then in the early hours of October 5, the pair fired a gun at another man in his St Keverne Square flat following a separate suspected fallout. The victim sustained injuries to his ear and calf – but survived.
Both brothers were found guilty by a jury of attempting to kill the mum following a three-week trial at Newcastle Crown Court in October 2021.
They were cleared of attempting to murder the man but were found guilty of attempting to wound him with intent by firing a shotgun at him.
Thomas, 21, of no fixed abode, was also convicted of possessing a firearm when prohibited, assault on emergency worker and racially aggravated disorderly behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
James, 27, of Henry Nelson Street, South Shields, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving in relation to a police pursuit that occurred shortly after the St Keverne Square shooting.
On Tuesday both brothers were back in the dock and each sentenced to 24 years behind bars.
Detective Chief Inspector Jane Fairlamb, of Northumbria Police, said: “Both brothers hatched a complicated plan to carry out these two shootings, using various vehicles to disguise their movements with the aim of avoiding detection.
“Guns are not toys. They knowingly and willingly pulled the trigger in an attempt to kill a mum in her home, as well as injure a second man after a suspected falling out.
“Incidents involving firearms are thankfully rare in this region, but when they do occur, this case shows that Northumbria Police are committed to using every tactic at our disposal in order to secure effective justice and put the perpetrators behind bars.
“Thomas and James Lee have proven themselves to be a danger to society and I am pleased that the jury saw through their lies. The streets of Newcastle are certainly a safer place with them both behind bars.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in this significant investigation who have all played their part in bringing these offenders to justice.
“Under the banner of Operation Sentinel, we will continue to do everything we can to tackle and prevent serious and violent crime across Northumbria.”
