Jamie Bridge sentenced to 24 years in prison plus five on extended licence for attempted murder of man in Southport

Jamie Bridge sentenced to 24 years in prison plus five on extended licence for attempted murder of man in Southport.

Merseyside police are welcoming the sentence of an Aintree man to 24 years in prison plus five years on extended licence for attempted murder after he shot a man in the head with a shotgun in Southport town centre last December, 2017.

22-year-old Jamie Bridge (pictured above) from Wyersdale Road in Aintree was sentenced today (Thursday, 28 June 2018) at Liverpool Crown Court.

At around 12.30pm on Thursday 21 December 2017, a call was received of a gunshot in Eastbank Street. Armed officers attended and a man in his 20s was found with a non life-threatening head injury. A bus driver was also found with a minor injury.

Following extensive forensic, CCTV and witness enquiries, Bridge was arrested and charged and admitted GBH with intent, GBH and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. He went on trial after denying attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Detective Inspector Andy McCourt said: “This was an appalling incident which took place in full view of people of all ages going about their business in the middle of a busy town centre street, close to Christmas. Witnesses included an injured bus drive, and school children, and the impact on everyone in the town involved in this incident has clearly been significant.

“This was a targeted incident and thankfully one in which the injuries sustained by the victim were not even more serious, but the sheer recklessness of Bridge’s actions last December cannot be overestimated. It is by sheer good fortune that nobody, either the victim or any bystanders, were killed, and to see Bridge taken off the streets for the foreseeable future is to be welcomed.

“Once again, we have seen that criminals who use firearms are throwing away their life and destroying that of others. The sentencing should strongly deter those who are considering this path of criminality.

“We will relentlessly pursue anyone who gets involved in gun crime in Merseyside. Firearms blight local communities and residents can rest assured that our efforts will continue to bring offenders to justice.

“Information from the community is vital and we will continue to act on all information that we receive to continue such good results. Keep coming forward and let us do the rest.”

Anyone with information on gun crime is asked to contact the gun crime hotline on 0800 230 0600, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.