Two men have been sentenced to prison following a 'revenge' shooting attack on a family home in Bolton, stemming from an ongoing feud between rival groups.

The incident occurred in March last year, when CCTV footage revealed Levi Cull, 28, firing a long-barrelled shotgun through an open door, injuring a man inside the house. Prosecutor Rachel Cooper presented the case at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court.

Cull was involved in a conflict with another group, culminating in the violent attack where he shot at a man from a car while children were present in the home. Cull and his accomplice, Jenson McNally, 23, have now both been jailed for their actions.

David Toal, defending Cull, stated that peace had been restored between the two factions following communication. He emphasized that his client was acting as a 'mentor' to other inmates while awaiting sentencing.

McNally, a father of two, was characterized by probation workers as having entrenched 'pro-criminal attitudes' but with a limited history of violence. His barrister, Richard Vardon, noted that the injuries inflicted with the shotgun were 'not particularly serious' and argued that McNally had been 'as much sinned against as sinning.'

Judge Bernadette Baxter noted that the defendants had been searching for a man on March 21 for reasons that remain unclear.

At 9 am on the day of the shooting, Cull threatened to go to the home of the victim's sister, warning that he would shoot her and her children. After this threat was reported to the police, Cull sent a Facebook message to the sister, calling her a 'grass.'

Later that day at 2:30 pm, a confrontation involving the defendants occurred, resulting in damage to a black Ford Focus, in which Cull and McNally were passengers. DNA evidence linked them to the vehicle and the fight with others.

At approximately 9:30 pm, Cull and McNally arrived at a home on Mercia Street in Deane, Bolton. From the front passenger seat of a Mitsubishi Shogun, Cull fired a shotgun through the doorway, where three children were present. A 999 call recorded the gunfire.

Inside the home, the brother of the intended target was shot in the feet, sustaining 15 pellets in his right foot and five in his left. The victim is reportedly recovering from his injuries.

Judge Baxter described the attack as “truly terrifying” for all present, especially the young children.

Following the shooting, both defendants fled to Scotland but were later arrested, providing 'no comment' responses during police questioning. The judge labelled the incident a 'group revenge attack', noting that the defendants pose a significant risk to public safety.

Both individuals have prior convictions for violence. Cull's record includes instances of possession of an imitation firearm and robbery, while McNally has previous convictions for weapon possession, robbery, and drug offences.

Cull, from Normanby Street, and McNally, from Towers Avenue, both in Bolton, pleaded guilty to possession of a shotgun with intent to cause fear of violence and grievous bodily harm (GBH). Cull received a nine-and-a-half-year sentence, while McNally was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years.

As they were led away, both men waved and blew kisses to family and friends in the gallery, with one individual heard exclaiming “result”.