Rifle attack victim shot in stomach

Feb 8 2008 by Neil Mckay, The Journal

A WEARSIDE man was recovering in hospital last night after being shot in the stomach.

The victim, 44, was injured with what is believed to be an air rifle in the backyard of his house in Voltage Terrace, Philadelphia, Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland, shortly before 8pm on Wednesday.

Police have arrested a man, 46, in connection with the shooting.

John Stiles, 63, a builder who lives in the same street, said: “The first I knew about it was when my son-in-law left our house last night to collect our granddaughter from a karate class and he wasn’t allowed back into the street. There was a lot of police activity.”

The street was cordoned off while officers carried out a forensic examination of the scene. Police put on extra patrols.

Supt John Chappell of Sunderland Police said: “Incidents of this nature are rare but we appreciate people in the area are concerned.

“We will be providing extra patrols to reassure local residents and we urge anyone with concerns to speak to their local officers.”

The shooting came during the week that police helped launch a three-month Not in Our City campaign to reassure locals that the city and surrounding area was a safe place to live.

The Safer Sunderland Partnership, includes local police, the city council, probation and youth offending services.

Coun Tom Foster, chairman of the partnership, said: “We’re extremely proud of all our partners’ ongoing hard work to make Sunderland a safe city for everyone.

“For the second year running, crime rates here have been below the national average and there are now 10,000 fewer victims of crime in the city than there were four years ago.”

The Not in Our City campaign has adverts featuring local people and Sunderland AFC chairman Niall Quinn, which aims to highlight “the significant reductions in crime and anti-social behaviour achieved in Sunderland.”

Anyone with information on the shooting should contact Sunderland police on 0845 604-3043.