Manchester Evening News

Three admit roles in restaurant shooting

- By SOPHIE HALLE-RICHARDS sophie.halle-richards@men-news.co.uk @sophiehrME­N

THREE people have pleaded guilty to charges relating to a shooting in the car park of a popular restaurant – but the gunman is still on the loose.

A 30-year-old man was blasted with a shotgun outside Albert’s restaurant on the East Lancs Road in Swinton, Salford, on Sunday, February 4.

The victim was taken to hospital with a wound to the leg and was later discharged to recover at home.

At Manchester Crown Court, D’maine Robinson, 32, of Graythorpe Walk, Salford, admitted conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm and conspiracy to possess a firearm.

Michael Crimes, 40, of Littlegree­n Gardens, Salford, pleaded guilty to two counts of participat­ing in criminal activities of an organised crime group.

Those charges relate to the theft and burning of a vehicle which was used in the shooting.

Amy Cooper, 32, of Barrfield Road, Salford, admitted assisting an offender after allowing her premises to be used by Robinson to avoid police detection.

The trio were due to appear for trial this week after they were arrested and charged as part of the investigat­ion into the shooting, known as Operation Macaroni.

But trial judge Martin Walsh discharged a jury after the three defendants entered guilty pleas to alternativ­e offences.

He said: “A man was shot with a shotgun on February 4 this year outside Albert’s in Swinton. The gunman has not been identified.

“It is known the shooter travelled from the Liverpool area. A car which was stolen and used to transport them was burnt out and a taxi was used to return to Liverpool.

“These defendants were charged with conspiracy on the basis that although they were not the gunman, they played a part in what happened.”

Armed police were first called to the car park outside Albert’s at around 9pm on Sunday, February 4. The area around the restaurant and the next-door hotel was cordoned off following the attack.

It is understood the attacker, wearing a balaclava and dark clothing, approached the victim as he and a friend were on the way to his car having left the restaurant.

Detectives say the attack was ‘targeted.’

Crimes and Robinson were remanded into custody after the hearing and Cooper was released on bail. They will all be sentenced on Thursday, November 15.

 ??  ?? Police tape at the scene of the shooting
Police tape at the scene of the shooting

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