A mother narrowly avoided being shot after two gunmen fired at her home in Thorntree, Middlesbrough, while her children slept upstairs, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Dwayne Bates and Kieron Robinson, both 35, were found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. The court heard that on May 7 last year, the men parked near the property on Middlebeck Way, donned masks, and approached the house. One weapon failed to fire, but the other discharged successfully before the trio fled.
The mother, who had been subjected to threats of rape, arson, and acid attacks in the days prior, was standing by her living room window moments before the shooting. In a victim impact statement, she said she struggles to sleep and is 'startled at the slightest noise', adding that her children cannot understand why she is 'snappy' and restricts their movements at night.
Judge Amanda Rippon told the men, who listened via video link from HMP Holme House: 'You were literally guns for hire. The offence was committed in the context of organised crime. It is only by chance she was not seriously injured.' She described the mother as 'a remarkable woman' and expressed hope she would find her old self.
Bates received an extended 10-year sentence, comprising seven years and four months in prison and two years and eight months on extended licence, due to his criminal record and likelihood of reoffending. Robinson's sentence was not specified in the report.
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Pringle of Cleveland Police said: 'This address was targeted knowing that there were potentially young children in there, which is horrifying. I am pleased that the public will now be protected from these men.'
