A drug dealer accidentally shot his girlfriend in the legs at his family home in Toxteth before fleeing the scene and leaving her seriously injured, a court has heard. Ali Karadas, 21, of Denman Drive in Tuebrook, was jailed for eight years at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday after admitting possession of a prohibited firearm and unlawful wounding.
The shooting happened on March 12 this year, shortly before 12.50am, at his family home on Lime Grove in Toxteth. Karadas and his then-girlfriend, aged 17, had been in a relationship for a few months and had spent the day together, meeting at Sefton Park before going bowling in Kensington and returning home.
They visited a takeaway on Lodge Lane shortly after midnight before going to an address to buy cannabis. There, Karadas handed his crossbody man bag to the occupant before it was returned to him, with the gun seemingly given to him at that stage.
Gunshot captured on Ring doorbell camera
Back at Lime Grove, the couple were alone in the living room while his parents and brother were upstairs. A Ring doorbell camera from a neighbouring property captured the sound of a single gunshot. The victim suffered two "through and through wounds" to her right thigh and left calf from the bullet passing through both legs.
Karadas's father called 999, but the defendant had already fled the address within minutes, leaving his injured partner behind. When police arrived, they found YouTube videos of firearms being discharged playing on a television in the lounge.
Having taken his victim's mobile phone, Karadas made calls as he fled on foot, apologising to her family and stating it was an accident. He used Snapchat to arrange the disposal of the firearm, which was never recovered.
Found sleeping at construction site
At around 7.15am the same day, Karadas was found sleeping in a building site on Hargreaves Road, off Lark Lane. He told a construction worker that he and his girlfriend had been "messing around and having a laugh" when the weapon "popped off", and that seeing her bleeding caused him to flee.
He was arrested more than a month later on April 15 at an address in Maghull. Under interview, he claimed he had been the intended target of a shooting by an unknown gunman who missed him and struck her instead.
The victim was rushed to Aintree Hospital, underwent emergency surgery, and was discharged a week later. She spent four weeks on crutches and has been left with permanent nerve damage, including a formal diagnosis of foot drop in her left foot.
Victim's life 'turned upside down'
In a statement read to the court, she said: "I remember vomiting and feeling very sick due to the intensity of the pain and shock of being shot. I feel as though my life ground to a halt. I've struggled to sleep. Some nights, I lie awake until three or four in the morning. Sometimes, I wake up drenched in sweat checking my legs for blood."
She added: "One of the most upsetting things is I had to rehome my pet dog, as I'm unable look after him or walk him. My life has been turned upside down. I can't work or study until I make a full recovery."
Karadas has 11 previous convictions for 11 offences, including possession of an imitation firearm and being released on licence from a three-year sentence for class A and B drug supply offences only weeks before the shooting.
Judge: 'Grossly reckless handling'
Sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said: "No one is suggesting that you deliberately shot her, but your handling of that firearm was reckless. You were messing around, and the gun went off with the catastrophic consequences that I have described."
He added: "Rather than remaining at the scene to assist her, you left the premises, taking her mobile phone with you. Your decision to flee the scene, leaving her bleeding in the living room of your home address, seriously undermines any suggestion made on your behalf of remorse other than concern for your own situation."
The judge noted that Karadas had been assessed as posing a high risk of serious harm to the public and a very high risk of serious harm to his current partner, but said he did not consider an extended determinate sentence necessary. Karadas was also handed a restraining order banning him from contacting his ex-girlfriend for 10 years.
