Man not guilty of attempted murder after shooting

A 25-year-old man has been found not guilty of attempted murder in connection with a shooting.

William Scammell, from Speedwell in Bristol, pulled up alongside Ryan Cridland's car and fired a sawn-off shotgun through his window on 1 April. The 24-year-old suffered serious chest injuries in the attack and was taken to hospital for urgent surgery.

The jury at Bristol Crown Crown returned a guilty verdict for the lesser charge possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life earlier.

Det Ch Insp Jess Aston, from Avon and Somerset Police, said: "This was a serious and concerning incident, and today's outcome reflects the gravity of the offending."

Scammell will be sentenced on 19 January.

Scammell claimed he only carried the gun for protection following a campaign of intimidation from Cridland.

The jury agreed that Scammell had been carrying a loaded shotgun, and when giving evidence, he admitted his intention to fire it into the car.

Following the shooting, four schools in the area were placed into precautionary lockdowns while the incident unfolded.

Scammell was seen on CCTV driving away from the scene towards Netham Park where he discarded the gun.

He was later spotted throwing away clothing and shotgun cartridges in the nearby St Anne's Woods.

Police arrested him in the early hours of the following day.

Det Ch Insp Aston said she wanted to reassure the public that the incident was isolated and it happened between two people who knew each other.

"We found no evidence to suggest there was any wider risk to the community," she said.

"While incidents such as this can cause concern, cases involving firearms remain rare.

"While today's verdict cannot change what happened, I hope it provides some reassurance that offences involving firearms will be thoroughly investigated and that that responsible will be held accountable," she added.

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