POLICE SEIZED BALACLAVA AND CROWBAR FROM GUNMAN’S GETAWAY CAR
Shooter nabbed by cops within a day of alley attack
DETECTIVES have praised the support of residents of a city estate where a man was shot in the middle of the day.
They spoke out following the jailing of three men for their roles in the apparently motive-less Bentilee shooting, which stunned the community.
The victim was in an alley on his way to the shops and the bookie’s on August 30 last year when Jesse Dyche pointed the barrel of a gun at him and opened fire.
He was left in a pool of blood and required surgery for a lower leg fracture.
Staffordshire Police have now revealed armed officers stopped Dyche within a day of the shooting. They also seized a hammer, crowbar, balaclava and baseball bat found in his car, together with passports and £2,200 in cash.
That discovery led to detectives linking Dyche’s accomplice Stephen Thorogood and teenager Ethan Beech – who acted as getaway driver – to the shooting.
Stoke-on-trent Crown Court had been told the victim was in Dawlish Drive when a Ford Focus containing two men was seen in the neighbourhood.
CCTV had also captured Dyche, aged 27, of Leek Road, Stoke-on-trent, carrying a firearm as he headed off with the victim’s carrier bag.
Beech, aged 18, of Fell Street, Smallthorne, drove Dyche and 45-year-old Thorogood, away in a Vauxhall Insignia which was later found dumped in nearby Pillar Close.
Detectives immediately ordered part of Bentilee to be
taped off as they began their investigation.
Officers say footage showed Beech, Thorogood and Dyche ‘driving around’ in a Ford Focus before going to a street where they changed into dark clothing and got into the Vauxhall to travel to where the attack happened.
Armed cops stopped Dyche while he travelled in the same Ford Focus in North Wales.
Last week, he and Thorogood were jailed for nine years. Both pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Beech was jailed for 20 months after he admitted assisting an offender.
Detectives who oversaw the case say residents of Bentilee supported the investigation after being shocked by the level of violence.
Detective Constable Adam Coomer said: “This investigation succeeded because the local community declared – through dozens of acts of help and support to the investigating team – that they were simply not willing to share their streets with crime and violence.
“It’s a great example of what local communities and local policing can achieve together, and we are grateful to everyone who helped us – as many will not appreciate how significant their contributions were.”
Detective Inspector Nathan Hough, of the force’s CID, who was the senior investigating officer in the case, hopes the sentences handed to the men send out a strong message to criminals.
He said: “We will take robust, prompt action against those who think it’s acceptable to commit acts of serious violence on our streets. The use of firearms by criminals across Staffordshire will not be tolerated.
“We have a range of tactics at our disposal to proactively protect our communities from the criminals who think they can get away with these sorts of crimes. I would like to thank the local community for their valued assistance and support during this investigation.”