Man found guilty of firearms offence following Speedwell shooting

A 25-year-old man on trial in connection with a shooting incident in Speedwell has been found guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

William Scammell, of no fixed address, has been on trial at Bristol Crown Court since last week. Today (Wednesday 14 October) the jury returned a guilty verdict for the firearms offence and a not guilty verdict for attempted murder.

He had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a shortened shotgun.

He will be sentenced at on 19 January next year.

During the trial, the court heard how, on 1 April this year, Scammell had been seen riding a motorised e-bike in and around the Speedwell area of Bristol behind, and then later alongside, a Volkswagen Polo.

The jury agreed that Scammell had been carrying a loaded shotgun and, when giving evidence, Scammell admitted his intention to fire the shotgun into the car.

The victim, 24-year-old Ryan Cridland, sustained a gunshot wound to the left-side of his chest and was taken by the driver of the Polo to a family address where they were met by paramedics.

He was taken to hospital in serious condition and was discharged following surgery.

Following the incident, Scammell was seen on CCTV driving away from the scene towards Netham Park where he discarded the gun. He was later seen throwing away clothing and shotgun cartridges in the nearby St Anne’s Woods.

He was arrested the following day in the early hours.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Jess Aston said: “I welcome the jury’s verdict in relation to the offence of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. This was a serious and concerning incident, and today’s outcome reflects the gravity of the offending.

“Incidents involving firearms are understandably alarming for those who live and work in our communities. People have a right to feel safe, and whenever a firearm is involved, there is the potential for significant harm. That is why offences of this nature are treated with the utmost seriousness and why we dedicate considerable resources to investigating them.

“I want to reassure the public that this was an isolated incident involving individuals known to one another. Throughout our investigation, we found no evidence to suggest there was any wider risk to the community. While incidents such as this can cause concern, cases involving firearms remain rare.

“I would like to thank the members of the public who assisted our enquiries, as well as the officers and staff involved in what was a complex investigation. Their professionalism, commitment and support were instrumental in helping us present a strong case before the court.

“My thoughts remain with those affected by this incident. While today’s verdict cannot change what happened, I hope it provides some reassurance that offences involving firearms will be thoroughly investigated and that that responsible will be held accountable.

“We remain committed to protecting our communities from serious violence and to doing everything we can to prevent incidents like this from happening in the future.”