Darlaston gunman still at large: None of the five men being sentenced for father's shotgun attack were the shooter
The 'mystery man' police are hunting for 'helping' five men shoot a father on his Darlaston driveway after the school run is in fact the gunman.
After five men admitted their part in the execution shooting two days into their trial the Crown Prosecution Service and West Midlands Police declared they were still hunting 'the mystery man' who 'helped them but had yet to be apprehended.
Prosecutor Darron Whitehead said after the guilty pleas in July: "We know these defendants were helped committing this crime, by so far unidentified men, but they continue to be sought and will be brought to justice."
Mohammed Ishtiaq, aged 22, of Allens Avenue, Abdullah Amjad, aged 22, of Floyer Road, and 25-year-old Shamus Hussain, of Oldknow Road, Samir Khan, aged 18, and Dilawar Khan, aged 19, from Monica Road, all in Small Heath pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and causing grievous bodily harm with a shotgun.
By taking conspiracy to commit murder the Crown Prosecution Service allowed all five to avoid life sentences but saved the taxpayer more than £100,000 by preventing a seven week trial.
Father Nadeem Khan was blasted twice with a shotgun after he had dropped his child off at school at 9am in Charles Foster Street, Darlaston, on October 11 last year. The gunman aimed at his head and shot through the car window, then when he dragged himself towards his house shot him again.
He said in a victim impact statement: "When the shotgun was aimed at my head I knew they wanted to kill me. I have injuries which still cause me pain. My mental health has been effected, i have PTSD and flashbacks.
"I have depression and my family have had get used to my new limitations.
The five appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday when they were expected to be sentenced. However, a problem with the pre-sentence reports, which are compiled by the Probation Service after interviewing the defendants, required by Justice Michael Chambers KC to tailor the sentences to each defendant's circumstances and previous convictions meant he adjourned the case until January 13.
To ensure Thursday's court date was not wasted, with the backlog meaning court time is at a premium, Justice Chambers KC did allow the prosecution to outline the opening to the sentencing and mitigation for several defendants.
However, the biggest revelation of the day was when Justice Chambers KC asked if any of five men in the dock was the shooter and prosecutor Mr Whitehead admitted the gunman was still at large.
Justice Chambers KC said: "So none of these five were the gunman?"
Mr Whitehead confirmed they were not. The five had carried out a military style reconiassance mission before the shooting, stealing cars and staking out the victim's house. The day before there was an abortive attempt due to the defendant changing his plans.
No motive has been established for the shooting.