Man sentenced to 24 years for attempted murder in Southport
Jamie Bridge shot a man in the head on a busy high street last December
22-year-old Jamie Bridge from Wyersdale Road in Aintree has been sentenced to 24 years for attempted murder at Liverpool Crown Court.
At around 12.30pm on Thursday 21 December 2017, a call was received of a gunshot in Eastbank Street. Armed officers attended and a man in his 20s was found with a non life-threatening head injury. A bus driver was also found with a minor injury.
Following extensive forensic, CCTV and witness enquiries, Bridge was arrested and charged and admitted GBH with intent, GBH and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. He went on trial after denying attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
The court heard Bridge had chased Mr Jopson through vehicles and shoppers, including schoolgirls, on Eastbank Street, before shooting him.
Bus driver Lee Armstrong, who was standing nearby waiting to start a shift, was also injured by parts of the shotgun cartridge, which shattered the glass in a bus shelter.
Both Mr Jopson and Mr Armstrong suffered wounds to their heads but were not seriously injured in the shooting.
Bridge, of Wyresdale Road, Aintree, showed no reaction when the verdict was announced, but his girlfriend and another female family member were in tears in the public gallery.
The defendant had initially denied the shooting in police interviews but pleaded guilty to wounding Mr Jopson after he was identified on CCTV.
He also admitted wounding Mr Armstrong and possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and intent to endanger life.
He told the court he and Mr Jopson had both sold cannabis in the Southport area but his rival had become jealous'' of him and threatened him.
He claimed he had collected the shotgun from a park where it was stored on the morning of the shooting because he feared for his life, but said he only wanted to hurt Mr Jopson.
He said: I didn't want to kill him. I wouldn't kill him in broad daylight. I wouldn't do that.
I don't want to waste the rest of my life in prison.'
Detective Inspector Andy McCourt said: “This was an appalling incident which took place in full view of people of all ages going about their business in the middle of a busy town centre street, close to Christmas. Witnesses included an injured bus drive, and school children, and the impact on everyone in the town involved in this incident has clearly been significant.
“This was a targeted incident and thankfully one in which the injuries sustained by the victim were not even more serious, but the sheer recklessness of Bridge’s actions last December cannot be overestimated. It is by sheer good fortune that nobody, either the victim or any bystanders, were killed, and to see Bridge taken off the streets for the foreseeable future is to be welcomed.
Detective Inspector Andy McCourt has told us he hopes today’s sentencing of Jamie Bridge for attempted murder sends a strong message on anyone considering using guns on our streets
“Once again, we have seen that criminals who use firearms are throwing away their life and destroying that of others. The sentencing should strongly deter those who are considering this path of criminality.
“We will relentlessly pursue anyone who gets involved in gun crime in Merseyside. Firearms blight local communities and residents can rest assured that our efforts will continue to bring offenders to justice.
“Information from the community is vital and we will continue to act on all information that we receive to continue such good results. Keep coming forward and let us do the rest."Anyone with information on gun crime is asked to contact the gun crime hotline on 0800 230 0600, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 11