A MAN and a teenager have been locked up for their roles in an organised crime gang that saw a loaded shotgun discharged at a woman’s head and a string of house raids and vehicle thefts across northern England.
Dale Poppleton, 42, of Charnwood Road, Eccleshill, Bradford, who was handcuffed during the hearing, and Ali Abbas, 18, of Cragg Street, Great Horton, Bradford, were ‘regular and willing participants’ in the group, Bradford Crown Court heard today.
Poppleton was jailed for a total of eight and a half years and Abbas was sent to detention in a young offender institution for four years and two months.
Terrifying video of the shooting incident was released by police after the court case.
Both pleaded guilty to possession of a shotgun with intent to cause fear of violence on January 11 and a string of house burglaries and thefts of vehicles. Poppleton also admitted dangerous driving in a stolen Audi when he crashed into another vehicle causing extensive damage while being pursued by the police.
Prosecutor Tonicha Allen said the shooting was a targeted attack on a family in their home at Christophers Court, Idle, Bradford, at 1.30am.
Poppleton was armed with a sledgehammer and Abbas had a loaded shotgun that he pointed at the female householder and discharged as she leant out of the window.
She was unharmed but left shocked and severely distressed.
Poppleton was caught wielding the sledgehammer on ring doorbell footage. He was wearing a motorcycle helmet he had burgled from a Bradford address.
The court heard that the helmet was recognised by its owner when he saw film of the shooting incident.
Police enquiries led to the Plaza Hotel on Manningham Lane, Bradford, where Poppleton was seen showing his missing ear when checking in.
Abbas was arrested by armed police officers and denied all the offences. Poppleton had 22 previous convictions and an extensive history of house burglary.
Miss Allen said the burglaries were targeted attacks on occupied addresses across the north of England with thefts of vehicles from the properties.
The woman shot at said it would stay with her forever. She was a mother with young children who was forced to live in another city after the incident.
In mitigation for Abbas, Peter Moulson KC said that all his offences were committed with others. He was 17 at the time and immature with intellectual difficulties. He became involved with the criminal group over a short time. He had a hitherto unblemished record with no previous convictions.
Mr Moulson said there was little by way of confrontation in the house burglaries and no injury caused.
Nicholas de la Poer KC, Poppleton’s barrister, said he did not encourage or instigate the discharging of the shotgun. He could be heard shouting: “You’ve shot her…why did you shoot her? Why did you shoot her?” after it was fired.
Poppleton was a recidivist criminal who was part of an organised criminal group with others but he had no propensity to carry firearms.
He had a son and he sincerely wished to be part of his life in the future, Mr de la Poer said.
Poppleton knew this would be his most substantial prison sentence. Several of his relatives had died from heart disease and he feared he may never leave custody.
Judge Jonathan Rose said that between December last year and February the defendants were motivated by greed when they engaged with others in serious criminal activity.
Their primary targets were innocent members of the public whose occupied homes were targeted at night. Disguises were worn by the gang and cloned vehicles used to commit the burglaries.
Abbas was ‘a junior but willing participant’ in the offending while the older Poppleton was the leading light. He was on licence for house burglary at the time.
He was sentenced for four offences of dwelling house burglary and Abbas for three.
Judge Rose said the shooting incident was motivated by the desire to cause violence and there was perhaps an element of vengeance or a vendetta behind it.
Abbas pointed the gun at the woman and fired it. By some good fortune or miracle he missed her but the risk of death or serious injury was very high.
Judge Rose accepted that Poppleton had instructed Abbas not to fire the gun. The teenager, who was 17, acted on his own volition. He was in the eyes of the law a child and one with no previous convictions.
He was immature and naïve and sought the approval of older men to have his self-esteem raised.
Abbas fired the gun as an instinctive reaction to the woman appearing at the window to challenge them, Judge Rose said.
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