A MAN who shot a DJ in the face after being asked to leave a pub in Coventry 20 years ago has been jailed for three years after being found guilty of wounding.
Anthony Stephens, who was a member of biker gang ‘The Outlaws’, fired the bullet at his victim at The Plough on London Road on the morning of Sunday, October 20 1996.
It ricocheted around the then 31-year-old’s skull and became lodged in his brain where it has remained ever since, causing long-term damage.
Stephens fled to Ireland immediately after the shooting where he went into hiding. He was arrested when he came back to the UK on 22 November 2013 and landed at Birmingham Airport.
The tattoo artist, who was formerly of Cranberry Road, Tile Cross, Birmingham, was later charged with attempted murder.
Warwick Crown Court heard how Stephens and his group of friends were ejected from the pub by staff.
When the victim ? who has asked not to be named – went outside the pub to stop the men causing damage to parked cars he was shot in the face.
And on Monday (April 25) a jury found the 49-year-old not guilty of attempted murder but guilty of wounding and he was jailed for three years.
Detective Sergeant Naomi Mauchan, who led the investigation, said: “Anthony Stephens’ actions on October 20, 1996 had a truly devastating impact, ruining the victim’s life and deeply affecting his family.
“My hope is that this conviction demonstrates how cases are never truly closed and we will always seek to take action against those responsible for crime, regardless of the passage of time.
“I’m pleased with the result at court and glad that we’ve finally got justice; I hope it brings some closure for everyone involved.
“I would personally like to thank the victim and the witnesses who have continued to support the police in this case; they all demonstrated great personal courage in giving evidence in a trial which was especially difficult due to the length of time since the events took place.”
