Man shot while trying to get stolen bike back
Cleveland PoliceA man suffered "life-threatening" injuries when he was shot in the stomach while trying to get his stolen bike back, a court has heard.
The victim had gone to confront drug dealer Luis Fonseca and his associate Derem Turner in Hartlepool when Fonseca fired a handgun at him in January, Teesside Crown Court was told.
The man's bike had been stolen from his home over the Christmas period while he was away on a family holiday at Disneyland Paris, with a subsequent "war of words" escalating on social media.
Both were initially charged with attempted murder but admitted possessing ammunition without a firearm certificate, with the pair sentenced to detention in a young offenders institute.
Fonseca, 21, was detained for five years and 10 months and Turner, 20, for two weeks short of two years.
'Trouble was brewing'
The victim and his family returned to their Hartlepool home after Christmas to find his valuable bike had been taken, prosecutor Nick Dry said.
He put out "feelers" on social media, "couched in strong terms", calling for it to be brought back.
"When it was not returned, matters quickly escalated, largely again on social media, as the trail led to the door of the two defendants," Mr Dry said.
There was then a "war of words" between the man and Turner, with the latter offering to return the bike in exchange for payment, the court heard.
On 2 January, the man and several friends drove to Fonseca's home on Cameron Road to confront him, the court heard, with the bike owner armed with a pick axe handle.
Both defendants knew "trouble was brewing", so Fonseca fled in a taxi to Turner's home on Garside Drive pursued by the man, Mr Dry said.
There a melee erupted during which Fonseca fired a handgun twice at the man, the second shot passing through his abdomen and liver, the court heard.
The man's friends took him to hospital where he needed surgery for the "life-threatening" injury and remained for more than two weeks.
Cocaine find
Both defendants fled, spending the following nights in Houghton-le-Spring and Durham before separating, Mr Dry said.
Fonseca was "run to ground" shortly after in Salford, Greater Manchester, while Turner was arrested in a hotel room at Scotch Corner in North Yorkshire, the court heard.
Officers found cocaine and crack cocaine worth more than £1,500 at Fonseca's home, with him going on to admit possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply.
Six rounds of 9mm ammunition were found hidden behind a bath panel at Fonseca's, each of which bore the DNA of Turner, the court heard.
Fonseca also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and violent disorder.
In mitigation, the court heard both feared they would be subjected to serious violence by the bike owner and Fonseca had fired a warning shot.