Daniel Lawless, 23, has been sentenced to 18 and a half years in prison for shooting an innocent man in the legs with a shotgun outside a chip shop in Croxteth, Liverpool, in what prosecutors described as a case of mistaken identity. The victim, David Forbes, was walking to collect food for his family on the evening of February 28 last year when he was attacked.
Shooting Details
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Lawless, of no fixed address, was dressed entirely in black and masked when he dropped a white plastic bag and ran towards Forbes. He mumbled something indistinct before levelling a shotgun at the victim, who had no connection to Lawless or his associates, and fired. Forbes recalled a 'bang and a flash' before collapsing with gunshot wounds to both legs. He dragged himself back to his home, where his stepson heard him crying 'I've been shot'.
Prosecutor Simon Christie said: 'Mr Forbes believed this to be a case of mistaken identity. He was entirely correct. This was a deliberate shooting of a wholly innocent person who was nothing whatsoever to do with the defendant.'
Background and CCTV Evidence
The incident occurred amid 'petty, tit-for-tat retaliation' between rival gangs. CCTV footage showed Lawless leaving an address on Petherick Road, retrieving the shotgun from his carrier bag in the car park of the Lobster pub, and displaying it to three men. After the shooting, he fled, briefly returned, and gestured towards the men before leaving again. He later returned to the address in a taxi at 7.15 am dressed in a dressing gown and carrying a black rucksack. The firearm was never recovered.
Victim Impact
Forbes initially spent two weeks in hospital and was readmitted for four weeks after developing blood clots. He has undergone multiple operations and skin grafts, with hundreds of shotgun pellets still lodged in his legs. In a statement read to the court, he said: 'I wanted to look at him directly and ask him why? I have no knowledge of why this happened. I was the wrong person at the wrong time. I'm glad it happened to me. Initially, my stepson was going to the chip shop. I decided to go instead. He's struggled with what's happened and struggled with his exams during his third year at university.'
Defendant's History and Sentencing
Lawless had prior convictions, including 10 months for making threats with an offensive weapon in January 2023 and five years and four months for wounding with intent in July 2025 after throwing boiling sugar water over a cellmate. He admitted wounding with intent and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life; a previous charge of attempted murder was ordered to lie on the file.
Defence lawyer Charles Lander said Lawless had suffered the death of his grandmother and expressed sympathy from his parents. He noted that Lawless had found trusted employment as a wing cleaner in prison but had faced threats and mental health issues. Lawless appeared via video link from HMP Liverpool, wiping his eyes during sentencing.
Judge Garrett Byrne said: 'Mr Forbes was a totally innocent member of the public. He did not know you. He did not associate with you or any of your friends. He had nothing to do with any criminal group. He was simply walking to a chip shop to get some food. You left your home carrying a loaded shotgun in a plastic bag. Your face was covered. You intended to shoot someone as part of some petty, tit-for-tat retaliation. You showed the weapon off to your friends.'
The judge noted the permanent and irreversible injuries and the aggravating factor of previous convictions, finding no particularly compelling mitigation. Lawless was jailed for 18 and a half years with an additional four years on licence.
