Pair from Liverpool area sentenced after gun fired at a home in west Hull

Two men from the Merseyside area have been sentenced to a combined total of 14 years in prison after a gun was fired at a home in Hull as part of a targeted attack.

Police said the "extremely dangerous act" committed by Liam Roscoe and James Connor in Gipsyville on July 20, 2023, could have "very easily resulted in someone being seriously injured or killed". The incident sparked a manhunt after the pair were caught on camera fleeing the scene in hi-vis clothing. Connor was tracked down at a house in Liverpool around two weeks later, while Roscoe was arrested using another person's details to travel from the Merseyside city's airport three weeks after that.

At 4.42pm on the day of the incident, Humberside Police received a report from a resident reporting that gunshots had been fired at an address in River Grove, off Hessle Road, in west Hull. Officers were deployed to the scene and, on arrival, found a bullet hole in the front window.

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A second bullet had also been fired at the front door through the video doorbell which smashed a mirror inside the property. Nobody was injured during the incident.

The two men were convicted of firearms offences earlier this year and have now been sentenced.

Roscoe, 24, of Birkrig, Skelmersdale, was charged with possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. Following a five-day trial at Grimsby Crown Court, the jury returned a guilty verdict for Roscoe on February 2, 2024. He has now been given a sentence of ten years (nine years in prison, with one year extended licence).

Connor, 26, of Statton Road, Liverpool, was also charged with possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to four years. Both men appeared at Grimsby Crown Court today (Friday, June 28) for sentencing.

Detective Chief Inspector Jayne Goodens, who led the investigation, said: “Following the report to police, enquiries swiftly commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, this included extensively reviewing CCTV footage in and around the area, conducting house-to-house enquiries, tracing any witnesses, mobile phone data analysis and carrying out forensic examination of the scene.

“From the CCTV footage, two men were seen fleeing the scene of the shooting in orange high visibility clothing before getting into a car and driving along Hessle Road, where the vehicle was identified as being registered to Connor.

“Further enquiries were conducted to trace the movements of the vehicle and it was discovered it had travelled from the Liverpool area prior to the incident, stopping at a location in Skelmersdale before travelling to Hull.

“CCTV enquiries conducted in the Skelmersdale area showed Connor attending a local pub prior to his journey to Hull, where he met another man who officers identified as Roscoe. Both men left the pub together in Connor's vehicle, and then returned to the pub following the incident in Hull."

Following further CCTV enquiries at the scene of the shooting and within the local area, footage showed Connor and Roscoe parking up at 3.44pm and walking past to scope out the address ahead of the shooting.

Police investigations continued and as part of their enquiries, a dedicated team of Humberside officers worked alongside Merseyside and Lancashire Police to execute a series of warrants at properties in the areas of Liverpool and Skelmersdale.

On August 3, 2023, officers carried out a search of a property on Crosswood Crescent, Liverpool, where Connor was located and arrested. As a result of all the enquiries undertaken, on August 24, Roscoe was arrested at Liverpool John Lennon Airport where he was found using another person’s details to travel.

Both Roscoe and Connor were transferred back to the Humber area, interviewed by detectives, and charged with possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Detective Chief Inspector Jayne Goodens added: “Clearly these men thought they could evade the police by shooting at a property in our force area before fleeing back to Merseyside and Lancashire, but sadly for them this wasn’t the case.

“Combined with stop searches, warrants and extensive CCTV enquiries, working closely with our colleagues at Merseyside and Lancashire Police, we have been able to take two violent men off our streets where they can no longer cause harm to our communities.

“There is no doubt that this was an extremely dangerous act, which could have very easily resulted in someone being seriously injured or killed.

“Roscoe and Connor deliberately targeted a residential property, having no regard for the occupants or their safety, and fired gunshots with the intention to cause fear and violence within our communities.

“Whilst incidents of this nature are thankfully rare in our area, we are absolutely determined to tackle gun crime and we have dedicated teams to support and take swift action against those responsible for serious offences and bring them to justice.

“I hope that this outcome and the conviction of both men sends a clear message that it will not be tolerated. The judge commended the police for the excellent police footage and investigative work, and I would like to echo this and thank detectives from our Major Crime Team and Serious and Organised Crime Unit for their determination in bringing Roscoe and Connor to justice.

“I would also like to thank our colleagues at Merseyside and Lancashire Police, and members of the public who assisted this investigation to enable our team to establish the facts of the case and identify those responsible.”