A MAN and two teenagers have been locked up for a total of more than 33 years for a shooting at a house in Thornton in the early hours of October 20, 2017.

Michael Webster, 28, of Hill Crest Swillington, Leeds, was jailed for 20 years for his role as the “organiser and orchestrator” of the attack on the home of his former partner and her new boyfriend while the two and one other person were in the house.

Byron Kiloh, 19, of Broadstone Way, Holme Wood, was sentenced to nine years and four months in a Young Offenders’ Institute for his role in the attack and a subsequent charge of dangerous driving.

A third defendant, a boy aged 16, who cannot be named because of his age, received four years.

The trio were found guilty last month of possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life.

The court heard they used an automatic “AK-47 style” rifle with “full metal jacket bullets”. Of the 7,841 firearms discharges recorded in Britain between 2008 and 2018, just 12 have been using automatic rifles.

Prosecutor Giles Hendron added this is the only case of those 12 where the perpetrators have been identified and convicted.

Mr Hendron told Bradford Crown Court Webster planned the attack due to jealousy following the break-up of his relationship.

He sourced a stolen Ducati motorbike, a Volkswagen Golf and an automatic assault rifle, along with “military-grade bullets designed to pierce body armour and penetrate through walls”.

He then recruited Kiloh and the youth, who was only 14 at the time, to travel to the address in Hill Top Road, Thornton, where they drove past numerous times before Kiloh got out and smashed the windscreen of Webster’s ex-partner’s car, to try and draw the two occupants outside.

When they did not come, at least 20 bullets were fired at the house, going through the door and windows, ricocheted off walls and worktops, before being embedded in the house’s back wall.

The vehicles and weapon were then disposed of, the bike found burnt out in Denholme, the car was traced in London, and the gun has never been found.

“Mercifully none of the house’s three occupants were injured”, Mr Hendron added.

Webster and Kiloh had a string of previous convictions for less serious offences, and the youth had no previous convictions.

In mitigation for Kiloh, Stephen Wood said he is a “highly vulnerable young man” with a history of “learning, emotional and social difficulties”.

For the youth, Richard Brigden said he has “intellectual deficiencies” and his “psychological age is much lower than 16”. He added the youth is “a sweet boy with a big heart”.

In sentencing, Judge Jonathan Rose said: “This offence is of the highest level of seriousness.

“Webster you were jealous of your ex-partner’s new relationship, you said you were obsessed with her, and it was a powerful motivator.

“There was an attack on your mother’s house and you thought her new boyfriend was responsible for it.

“The organisation, professionalism and viciousness of your attack, a few smashed windows does not seems to be an adequate reason for what you did next.

“You orchestrated what happened. It is a measure of your involvement with criminals you are close to people who can obtain such a weapon and bullets.

“It is a weapon with no legitimate purpose except on the battlefield.

“You recruited two young men to assist you that night, Kiloh aged 18, and a 14-year-old.

“Kiloh you were very much the right-hand man in the car, you were a significant accomplice.

“Webster you had no care for the wellbeing of the people inside the house. You were ready and willing to life of the mother of your children and her lover in danger.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Nick Wallen, who led the investigation for the Homicide and Major Enquiries Team, said: “This was an extremely serious incident in which a house and car were damaged by the discharge of an automatic weapon – a gun designed to cause maximum damage in a short space of time.

“The illegal use of firearms will not be tolerated and we hope this outcome will serve as a warning that you will go to prison if you are convicted of such an offence.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to appeal to anyone who has information about where this weapon might be now, so it can be safely recovered and destroyed.”