A "fixer" who played a pivotal role in a gangland shooting plot which ended in a semi-automatic pistol being fired at a rival's house has been jailed.
When Paul Momat's organised crime group fell out with another gang, he sparked a UK-wide conspiracy, with a team travelling to South Shields from London to carry out the shooting. The heavily disguised gunman lay in wait for Joseph Robinson before firing two low shots at his front door in a busy residential street in the early afternoon.
ChronicleLive reported previously how Momat and others had been jailed for conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. Now Caspian Bhinder has joined them behind bars for his role in the plot. Jailing him for five years and two months, Judge Tim Gittins rejected assertions that his role was "peripheral" and said it was "pivotal".
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Newcastle Crown Court heard Bhinder, 33, of Babbington Road, Streatham, London has expressed remorse in a letter and outlined steps he had taken in custody to better himself.
Nick Dry, prosecuting, said at the previous hearing: "The offence happened in the context of a North East gangland fallout between Momat's organised crime group and a competing group who counted Joseph Robinson among them.
"That reached such a level that Momat recruited (Colin) Crawley to assemble a team to travel north with a firearm to put Mr Robinson in fear of violence. The planning began in July and August but increased after an arson at a garage with which Momat was associated.
"(Caspian) Bhinder recruited (Ashlee) McKenzie and (Stefan) Simpson who came north, collected a semi-automatic pistol and ammunition from (James) Townsend in Oxford."
He added in relation to the shooting at Heaton Gardens, South Shields: "It was a busy residential street in the early afternoon."
"McKenzie drove up and down the street before parking up and lying in wait for Joseph Robinson, against a background of incessant calls and messages between the parties.
"Simpson then, heavily disguised, left the car on the arrival of Mr Robinson, running towards him and discharging the firearm in the direction of his address. He was then seen to be driven away by McKenzie.
"Mission successfully completed, there were numerous communications thereafter concerning payment, which was resolved at a meeting in York on September 18."
The bullets from the Russian-made gun embedded in the front door and a carpet gripper and Mr Robinson them came out brandishing an item, possibly a folding chair. The court heard he was later seen "taunting" them in a video, saying he was safe and well and they had missed.
Prosecutors said Crawley, who was jailed in 2003 for attempted murder and possessing a gun and ammunition in relation to an associate for the purpose of gain, "tried to hide his criminality" behind his business. Mr Dry said: "This was an enterprise prepared to use whatever means, fair or foul, to meet customers' requirements, including the use of intimidation by firearms."
In relation to Momat, Mr Dry said: "He wanted to maximise fear and distress and to intimidate Mr Robinson. Momat was calling the shots, setting out what was required and outsourcing the contract to Crawley."
Momat has previous convictions including conspiracy to rob in 2013 and conspiracy to burgle in 2014, which involved bogus police officers obtaining cash from victims.
The court heard Joseph Millward was Momat's right-hand-man and part of his inner circle. He has previous for affray and having an offensive weapon. Townsend was Crawley's trusted right-hand-man and was described as his "quartermaster". He has previous for GBH with intent in 2002, leaving an Oxford University student permanently brain damaged, for which he got a sentence of life with a minimum of two years. He has other offences of violence on his record.
Bhinder was described as Crawley's "go-to man" and a "fixer, recruiter and organiser" who was trusted by Crawley to assemble a team to carry out the offence. He played a "pivotal role", orchestrating events and providing live updates and was also the middle man in organising payment afterwards. He has previous for robbery and attempted robbery.
McKenzie, a close friend of Bhinder, was the "eyes and ears" as the team travelled north and he was also the getaway driver. Simpson was the gunman who fired the pistol twice towards the ground near the front door. His previous convictions include GBH with intent and cocaine dealing.
Baglin, an associate of Millward, who has no previous convictions, was a "runner" who sourced the VW Up used in the shooting and booked overnight accommodation and provided food and a sat nav for those travelling to carry out the offence.
Crawley, Millward, Baglin and Bhinder pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and Momat, Townsend, McKenzie and Simpson were convicted of the offence. Crawley, Millward and Baglin also admitted a non-disclosure offence in relation to their phone, which Momat was found guilty of.
At the previous hearing, Momat, 36, of Owen Drive, West Boldon, was jailed for nine years, Crawley, 46, of Woodall Court, Croydon, was jailed for six years and five months, Simpson, 24, of St Matthew’s Road, London, was jailed for seven years and three months, McKenzie, 33, of Wandsworth Road, Lambeth, got six years and Baglin, 24, of no fixed address, got three years and eight months.
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