Pair who shot at Staffordshire family home lose sentence appeal
A pair of criminals who were jailed after a targeted shooting on a family home near Lichfield deserved every day of their sentences, top judges said today.
Rayon Elton Hyde, 28, of Birmingham, and Nikita Taleba White, 34, of Walsall, each got 16 years for their parts in the terrifying attack.
White, of Brooklands, Yew Tree, was the driver, while Hyde, of Church Lane, Handsworth, and another fired a total of eight shots at the house in Hammerwich.
One of the bullets ended up lodged in the doorframe of the children's play room, but fortunately no one was hurt.
The pair denied any wrongdoing, but were convicted of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life and jailed at Stafford Crown Court in March.
This week, their lawyers argued that the sentences were 'simply too long', but appeal judges in London rejected their complaints.
Giving judgment, Mr Justice Jay said the raid had involved a 'significant degree of planning', including reconnaissance trips to the house.
The lights had been on when the shots were fired late on a February night last year, meaning they must have known someone was in.
He said: "Hyde fired into these premises knowing there was a significant risk that one or more persons would be in it.
"That the shots were discharged from some distance away makes no difference.
"The judge was entitled to conclude White was involved in this conspiracy up to the hilt and didn't merit differential treatment.
"These were undoubtedly stiff sentences, but they weren't even arguably manifestly excessive."
The judge, sitting with Lady Justice Hallett and Mr Justice Picken, rejected the appeals.
Following the sentencing in March, DCI Jason O'Toole, Senior Investigating Officer, said: "Fortunately, firearms incidents are incredibly rare in Lichfield and Staffordshire, and while we suspect it was a targeted attack it was evidently misguided and could have had grave consequences.
"Evidence gathered shows that this was a pre-planned shooting with three previous visits to the address, during which an unsuccessful attempt was made to shoot at the home.
"Thankfully no one was injured but the victims were left understandably shaken by these incidents and we have continued to support them throughout the investigation.
"Gun crime will not be tolerated in Staffordshire and we will do all we can to bring anyone involved in such criminality to justice."
