By Tony O’Riley-
Two men have been sentenced to a total of 11 years in connection with a drive-by shooting in Rushden, North Hertforshire, Uk, in January 2018.
Kaine Simms, 24, previously of Hitchin, was found guilty of GBH – wounding with intent, after a trial at Northampton Crown Court in July 2021, and Sam Cole, 23, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, in relation to the same incident.
The incident happened in the early hours of January 24, 2018, when a 24-year-old man turned up at Kettering General Hospital with a gunshot injury. An investigation was launched by Northamptonshire Police’s Serious and Organized Crime Team with the crime scene quickly established as Newton Road, Rushden.
The cause of the shooting has not been established, but locals told The Eye Of Media.Com, they believe it was drug related
CCTV showed the incident beginning with two cars- a SEAT Ibiza and a Hyundai i30- involved in a chase- starting in Portland Road, before moving through residential streets and eventually into Newton Road.
The victim was inside the SEAT along with Sam Cole and other associates. Whilst both cars were travelling along Newton Road, the Hyundai, containing Kaine Simms, overtook and a shot was fired into the SEAT.
The shot hit the victim on his upper right arm, shattering his humerus bone. Firearms experts later identified the bullet as a 0.32 calibre bullet, likely originating from a pistol handgun.
On January 25, 2018, the Hyundai i30 was seized following a lengthy high-speed police pursuit, and the driver was arrested. The passenger, Kaine Simms, escaped from the car, but was also later arrested.
Forensic examination of the Hyundai i30 confirmed the vehicle was the one used in the shooting after very high levels of gun shot residue were found on the rear passenger side window ledge, which experts confirmed was consistent with a shot having been made from the car.
The driver, a 56-year-old man, was later charged, but died in January 2021, before facing trial for the matter. Simms was also charged and at trial, admitted to being a ‘street level’ drug dealer involved in the Supply of Class A drugs in Rushden and surrounding areas.
He was convicted unanimously of GBH – wounding with intent, and was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison.
Cole pleaded guilty after detectives discovered recordings in which he admitted to being inside a car on January 24, and of being in possession of a firearm. He was handed a sentence of three years and six months.
Additional CCTV footage showed five masked males walking in Queen Street, Rushden, shortly after midnight, just one hour before the victim was shot. The CCTV showed one of the males in possession of an item believed to have been a sawn-off shotgun.
CCTV captures males Image:Northamtonshire Police
Detective Sergeant Keith Morson from Northamptonshire Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Team, said: “This was a shocking incident and I am pleased that we have managed to successfully ensure both Kaine Simms and Sam Cole are now in prison as a result of it.
“Both men acted exceptionally recklessly and dangerously on the night of January 24, 2018, and they are lucky that the person shot was not more seriously injured.
“Tackling serious and organised crime has been made a matter of priority for Northamptonshire Police and that means that we will continue relentlessly taking down people like Simms and Cole and