Violent gang to be locked up for more than 40 years combined after shots fired and cars torched in Walsall street

A pedestrian was left seriously injured during the shocking incident on Cobden Street on 4 May 2021 which saw shots fired and cars set alight. 

It started when a Gold Honda CRV crashed into a stationary black Volkswagen Golf, leaving a woman seriously injured. 

Seconds later a silver Volkswagen Polo pulled up and a man got out, firing shots at two men who had run from the Golf. 

One of the men suffered a bullet wound to the face. 

The driver of the Honda then torched the car with the fire spreading to the VW Golf and two nearby houses. Fortunately no residents were injured.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court last week, 27-year-old Mohammed Enam Hussain was jailed for 14-and-a-half years. 

He had previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and arson and was convicted of charges of grievous bodily harm, attempted grievous bodily harm, and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life following a trial.

Three others had already been jailed back in August for their part in the incident.

Mohammed Rahman, aged 32, was jailed for 15 years after pleading guilty to charges of grievous bodily harm, attempted grievous bodily harm and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Rehman Stanton, aged 19, was also convicted of grievous bodily harm, attempted grievous bodily harm and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and handed an eight year jail term.

Tarrel Chamwandayita, now aged 19, was jailed for his part after being found guilty of grievous bodily harm, attempted grievous bodily harm and dangerous driving. He will serve six years behind bars.

Detectives identified Hussain as being the driver of the Honda and the person responsible for setting the vehicle on fire. 

Rahman was identified as the shooter who fired two shots at the fleeing men. Chamwandayita was the driver of the silver Polo and Stanton was also in the car.

Officers arrested Hussain on May 7 and the three other men were arrested days later.

DNA from the silver stolen Polo which police recovered forensically linked Stanton to the vehicle and Chamwandiyata’s DNA was also discovered. Officers also took the men's phones and, following forensic analysis, found all four of them to have been in the vicinity of the incident at the time.  

DC Lindsay Marsh, investigating officer, said: “These four will serve more than 40 years behind bars for this incident. The four men showed total disregard for their victims. It was carried out in broad daylight with innocent people going about their business and a local school nearby.

“The fire they started spread to nearby houses and their actions could have caused people to have been killed. The impact on the victims and the community was significant. The violence which was displayed in broad daylight was both shocking and frightening and we are pleased these men will now spend years behind bars.”