Brixton bailiff shooter faces years behind bars

Andrew Stephenson, 50, was found guilty of two counts of wounding with intent after an eight day trial at Blackfriars Crown Court.

Jurors deliberated for three and a half days before delivering a guilty verdict on charges of wounding and possession of firearms with intent to endanger life.

Mr Stephenson was however cleared him of the more serious charges of attempted murder.

The maximum sentence for wounding is life and Mr Stephenson will be sentenced on 14 March. Judge John Hillen indicated he faces a custodial sentence in double figures.

Mr Stephenson shot a bailiff, who cannot be named, and Norma Johnson, a housing officer with Metropolitan Housing Trust, as they attempted to evict him from his Brixton flat on 3 July last year.

He was also charged with chasing locksmith Marcus Green out of the flat and firing at him as he cowered behind a parked car. Jurors were unable to reach a verdict on this charge.

Metropolitan had obtained a court order to evict Mr Stephenson in May last year, after he built up almost £8,000 of arrears.

When Ms Johnson and the bailiff entered the flat, Mr Stephenson emerged from the kitchen and opened fire.

‘As I turned I felt a burning sensation within me… My whole midriff felt as if it was on fire. I just ran out of there,’ the bailiff said.

Ms Johnson slipped and fell as she fled the flat, but was able to scramble to her feet before being shot in the knee in the road outside.

The court heard Mr Stephenson then pursued Mr Green into the street, where the locksmith took shelter behind a car and began pleading with the shooter.

‘Mr Stephenson moved around the car shooting at him, as Mr Green tried to calm him down by saying “I am only doing my job”,’ prosecutor Julian Evans said.

‘The defendant responded “well maybe you should get another job”.’

Both the bailiff and Ms Johnson escaped serious injury. Mr Green was not shot. Judge Hillen is yet to decide whether he will face a retrial on this count.

Mr Stephenson had denied the charges, claiming he acted in self-defence after assuming the eviction party were breaking into his flat to kill him.

He had hoarded weapons at the Strathleven Road property since his upstairs neighbour was murdered in 1993.

He admitted possession of a prohibited pistol, an air gun adapted to fire bullets, 35 expanding bullets, 297 non-expanding bullets and a silencer all recovered at his flat.  

Brian Johnson, chief executive of Metropolitan, said: ‘Our priority throughout this case has been to support those members of staff who were the victims of such a shocking crime. We are all very relieved to see the case come to a conclusion and we will continue to support those colleagues involved in any way we can.’

Detective Sergeant Paul Carruth, Trident Gang Crime Command, said: ‘This was an appalling and excessively violent attack on innocent people, simply doing their job. Being evicted from his home may very well have been stressful for the defendant however his actions were completely unnecessary and unprovoked. 

‘We hope today’s conviction brings some closure and justice for the victims and also sends a clear message to those involved in gun crime that they will be caught and will be placed before the courts.’