A man who fled a shooting in a car that deliberately rammed pursuing armed police officers told a stunned member of the public "one more Volvo off the road lad". Kenneth Quadrio, 23, made the remark as he fled into overgrowth near the canal by Aintree racecourse.
Quadrio and four other men - Adam Bigley, 33, Joseph Kidd, 42, Lee Nimbley, 21, and 18-year-old Lucas Maguire - were in a stolen Toyota fleeing from the scene of a shooting. Merseyside Police officers on patrol around Litherland's Pendle estate had initially spotted a Toyota Hilux pursuing a Sur-Ron rider at around 4pm on March 23.
Shooting and pursuit
CCTV showed the car, stolen in January in Oldham, had earlier picked up Maguire and Quadrio, with Bigley, Kidd and Nimbley already inside. The group then followed the victim, who was riding the electric motorbike, to Bowland Drive. Once there, a man got out of the car armed with a gun, while three others also followed and chased after the rider. While in an alleyway, one of the men shot at the rider, who managed to escape unharmed.
The car was driven away, but armed response officers tracked and pursued the vehicle. At a set of lights on Melling Road, Aintree, the Toyota reversed back, damaging one of the pursuing police cars, at which point Quadrio and Maguire fled on foot.
After seeing the damage to the police car, Quadrio, who was located shortly after cowering in undergrowth close to the nearby canal, told a passing member of the public: "Tell the streets Kenny Quad took one more Volvo off the road lad." Meanwhile Maguire ran through a back garden, claiming when challenged by the homeowner that he had been robbed of his bike and phone. He managed to return home but was later arrested.
Arrests and sentencing
Bigley, Nimbley and Kidd remained in the car and drove off before abandoning the vehicle in Epsom Close. CCTV captured the trio leaving the vehicle and climbing over garden fences towards the canal. Bigley and Nimbley were intercepted by armed police on the canal towpath, having discarded a bag containing two guns on their way, and Kidd was detained on Cheltenham Close. The firearms were recovered and one forensically linked to the shooting.
Bigley, of Portland Place, Everton, was convicted of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life, two counts of conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon, conspiracy to possess ammunition, dangerous driving, driving other than in accordance with a licence and using a motor vehicle without third party insurance. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison with four years on extended licence. Bigley was previously connected to a Beretta known as Britain's "most criminally used firearm".
Kidd, also of Portland Place, was convicted of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life, two counts of conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon, conspiracy to possess ammunition. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Nimbley, of Stanley Park Avenue South, Anfield, was convicted of the same offences and also sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Other sentences and police response
Quadrio, of no fixed abode, was convicted of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm and sentenced to four years in prison. Maguire, of Ridgewood Way, Bootle, was convicted of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm and sentenced to 32 months in prison, suspended for two years.
Detective Inspector Chris Clark, from Merseyside Police's firearms investigation team, said: "The sentencing of these men should send a very clear message that Merseyside Police will not tolerate the use of firearms on our streets. All five men attempted to evade capture, but our officers were more than a match for them, and they have now faced the consequences of their actions."
Bigley, Nimbley, Kidd and Quadrio are now behind bars, and unable to cause further harm to our communities, and our work to bring anyone involved in such dangerous offending to justice goes on. "If you know anything about the storage, movement or use of firearms and other weapons, please contact us. What you tell us may lead to other criminals and their weapons being removed from circulation, and those communities stronger and safer places to live, work and visit."
