A gunman caught in Leamington Spa has been given a 19-year jail term, after he shot a customer in a shop in an attempt to steal a watch which he thought was a Rolex.

The watch the man was wearing was fake, but Shaquarn Reid believed it was worth stealing, and demanded his victim hand it over at a store in Holyhead Road, Birmingham on 18 August 2023.

Reid, who was behind the man in a queue at about 10.30pm, then shot his victim in the chest and still tried to take the watch, but failed and fled empty-handed.

Investigators identified Reid quickly after he had dropped a mobile phone at the scene and they launched a manhunt which resulted in him being arrested in Leamington Spa a month later, on 21 September.

His victim is still continuing with his recovery after being treated in hospital for serious, but not life-threatening injuries.

Reid, of Raleigh Close, Birmingham, was found guilty of assault causing grievous bodily harm, following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court in February last year.

The 23-year-old, who had previously admitted attempted robbery and possessing a prohibited weapon self-loading pistol. On Wednesday (2 April) at Teeside Combined Court he was sentenced to 19 years.

DC Charlie Climo from the Major Crime Unit, said: "This was a truly shocking attack which could quite easily have cost the victim their life.

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"It was an opportunistic and violent act by a man who felt that it was acceptable to walk around the streets with a loaded firearm in his pocket, with no regard for others' safety.

"But this kind of behaviour is not acceptable and we will always work to trace such offenders and bring them before the courts.

"Violent offences remain one of our priorities and we will act swiftly and robustly to ensure we bring those responsible to justice and make the communities we serve safer."