Gang member who fired at children in drive-by shooting jailed for 19 years

A GANG member who seriously injured a 12-year-old boy in a drive-by shooting during a drugs war in Sheffield has been jailed for a minimum of 19 years.

A judge told Stephen Dunford, 25, the activities of his gang had “engendered enormous fear” and made the lives of residents “a living nightmare”.

Sheffield Crown Court heard the boy was with friends outside a sandwich shop in the Arbourthorne area on January 12 when he was shot in the leg by Dunford, who opened fire with a revolver from the passenger seat of a stolen

Ford Focus.

Another man also fired from the car, the court heard.

The boy, who was not the intended target of the attack, was seriously injured in the incident and doctors have never managed to remove the bullet from his thigh.

Judge Jeremy Richardson, QC, described how another boy escaped death by centimetres when a second bullet passed through the hood of his top.

Dunford, who was found guilty of attempted murder and other offences after a six-week trial, was told by Judge Richardson yesterday: “It is only a matter of good fortune and chance you did not kill them both.”

He sentenced him to life imprisonment and said that if both boys had died Dunford would have received a whole life tariff. Instead, Judge Richardson jailed Dunford for a minimum of 19 years.

He said: “I have no doubt your conduct is corrosive towards society and your life is replete with irredeemable criminality.”

Judge Richardson said: “You pose enormous danger to the general public.”