Drug dealer is jailed for shooting man in street

A drug dealer who shot a man in the street in a dispute over a stolen bike has been locked up for more than five years.

- Mark Payne

Luis Fonseca, 21, fired two shots from a handgun in broad daylight in Garside Drive, Hartlepool, on January 2 this year, shooting a man in his 30s and causing life-threatening injuries.

Teesside Crown Court heard the victim became "extremely angry" when his bike was stolen over Christmas and suspicion fell on Fonseca and Derem Turner, 20.

Nick Dry, prosecuting, said: "When it was not returned, matters escalated quickly, largely on social media as the trail led to the door of the two defendants."

He added: "The war of words continued and escalated to the point that the victim was suggesting that he would attend in person Turner's address should the bike not be returned, retrieving it by force should that prove necessary."