Man jailed for minimum of 12 years for shooting
A 29-year-old man has been jailed for a minimum of 12 years after shooting another man in broad daylight in Leytonstone. Reece Burton, of no fixed address, was previously found guilty of attempted murder and possession of a firearm at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, 11 December 2019. On Monday, 17 February, at the same court, he was sentenced to life imprisonment and told he must serve a minimum of 12 years. He was also sentenced to eight years in prison for possession of a firearm, to be served concurrently. The court heard that on the morning of Monday, 17 June 2019, Burton armed himself with a loaded firearm and travelled to Birch Road, Leytonstone where he lay in wait for the victim. When the 28-year-old victim left his house at around 11:30hrs, Burton discharged the firearm at least twice. One of the shots struck the victim in the neck, narrowly missing vital arteries and blood vessels. The victim staggered home, convinced he was dying, while Burton fled the scene on a bicycle. Detectives from Specialist Crime launched an investigation and Burton was identified and arrested on Friday, 21 June. The firearm has never been recovered and Burton failed to admit any responsibility for the attack. On sentencing, the judge said Burton was a dangerous offender who was heavily entrenched in criminal culture. Detective Inspector Matthew Webb, who led the investigation, said: “This offence was borne from tensions between street gangs and their members and was clearly a pre-planned and targeted attack. “There is no doubt that Burton intended to take the life of the victim. He laid in wait with a firearm, with no regard to the fact it was broad daylight and other members of the public were present. “It is simply pure luck that the victim was not killed. “The sentence imposed today illustrates the seriousness of this offence. I would like to use this opportunity to offer my thanks to those people who selflessly assisted the victim, offering comfort and first aid, not knowing if Burton and his associate were still nearby”. We need to hear from anyone who has information about a crime, or about someone they suspect to be carrying a weapon or involved in organised crime.
