Islington gang member jailed with two others after one opened fire on police car

Miles (Image: Archant)

Adebola Alimi, 22, of Islington, and 21-year-old Daniel Ikumelo, of Hackney, were chased by officers down Mandeville Street in Clapton before a bullet fired from a fully-loaded Colt 45 handgun narrowly missed the unmarked car.

Ikumalo (Image: Archant)

Ricardo Miles, 21, from Enfield – who pulled the trigger – was also convicted.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard that the trio were members of the Certified Southwold Road gang who had ridden out in a show of “gang rivalry” against the neighbouring Gilpin Square Gang.

Sentencing, Judge Neil Sanders said: “I’m satisfied your purpose for riding out that night was gang-related.

“You rode out into the heart of the territory intending to use the gun to endanger life.

“It was a loaded Colt 45 firearm. It was fired into the ground in the direction of a police car in a residential area and fired while riding a bicycle.

“In these circumstances I consider there was a real risk of injury, not only to the police officers, but also to residents.

“The intention was to endanger life and to use [the gun] if and when the occasion arose. It was in the context of gang rivalry.

“You intended the gun would be used to endanger life, if and when the occasion arose.”

CCTV operators had seen the trio acting suspiciously and scrambled a police car to track them before the bullet was fired at about 11.30pm on January 12, 2012.

A knife was also recovered at the scene. DNA from the bicycles belonged to Alimi and Ikumelo.

The judge told the court that Blackberry messages between Miles and Ikumelo in December 2011 had boasted of only needing “one bullet”, having tested the firearm.

The gun, which was found on the footbridge which the gangsters fled across into Hackney Marshes that night, had been loaded with six bullets – two of which had been fired. Only one was fired at the police car.

Arlette Piercy, representing Alimi, of Medina Road, Holloway, told the court the he still claims he is innocent despite being found guilty by jury in May. The Nigerian faces deportation.

Miles was sentenced to 13 years, Ikumelo 11 years and 11 months and Alimi 12 years after they were found guilty of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life and having an offensive weapon.

Alimi was convicted for robbery in 2006, possession of an imitation firearm in 2007 and violent disorder in 2010. Miles, of Gilbert Street, had received a warning for possession of an offensive weapon in 2008 while Ikumelo, of Kenninghall Road, was convicted for possession of a bladed article in 2009 and affray in 2010.