Three men, namely Paul Amoah, Lee Mitchell, and Gavin Smale, were handed prison sentences on Tuesday following a harrowing assault involving a hammer and gun in Cornwall last year.

Amoah, 39, faced charges of attempted murder, wounding with intent, and aggravated burglary. He received a severe sentence of 27 years behind bars.

Mitchell, 28, was found guilty of two counts of wounding with intent and aggravated burglary, earning him a nine-year prison term. Meanwhile, Smale, 44, faced charges of unlawful wounding and aggravated burglary, resulting in a seven-year prison sentence.

Truro Crown Court handed down the convictions following a two-week trial. The court heard the horrifying details of the July 6, 2023, incident when Amoah, Mitchell, and Smale forcibly entered a property on Drump Road in Redruth armed with a Beretta handgun and a hammer.

The victims, identified as Jaroslavas Gavorskis and Terry Madden, were familiar with the perpetrators and shared residency in the targeted property. Outside the courtroom, law enforcement officials described the assault as “brazen.”

“Amoah kept a dangerous firearm at his home without fear,” said Detective Inspector Dave Egan.

“He brazenly took it out on the streets and into another person’s home with the intent on causing serious harm to someone who, when faced with such a weapon, had no choice but to flee, resulting in him to be shot in the back as he did so.”

How the night of terror unfolded

The horrifying ordeal began when Amoah and Mitchell arrived and knocked on the back door. An occupant inside the house spotted a figure holding a firearm at the back door and quickly alerted others as Amoah and Mitchell started breaking down the door.

Once inside, the assailants, wearing balaclavas, unleashed a flurry of violence. Amoah shot one victim who was attempting to flee, while Mitchell pursued another victim upstairs before relentlessly striking him with a hammer. Throughout the onslaught, Smale stood watch outside, acting as a lookout.

The disturbance prompted a third victim to barricade himself in an upstairs room. He suffered a head injury as one of the assailants attempted to force entry. Amid the chaos, the perpetrators ransacked the property, making off with significant sums of cash and one victim’s passport.

Authorities were alerted by the ambulance service following reports of a gunshot victim. Armed response units were swiftly dispatched, initiating a manhunt. Devon and Cornwall Police meticulously combed through extensive CCTV footage, leading to the apprehension of the suspects.

Smale was captured attempting to flee an address on Harmony Close, Redruth, while Amoah was discovered hiding under a sofa at an address on Cardew Close. Mitchell was apprehended the following day.

All three suspects were taken into custody, subsequently charged, and remanded. Further investigation within the property on Harmony Close yielded a handgun concealed within a children’s toy basket, with DNA evidence conclusively linking it to Amoah. In addition, a hammer abandoned at the crime scene bore Mitchell’s DNA alongside the victim’s blood.

One victim reportedly sustained severe life-threatening injuries, narrowly escaping death.

“The victim suffered extremely serious, life-threatening injuries, had to go through multiple operations and is extremely lucky to be alive today,” said Detective Inspector Egan.

He also highlighted the rarity of firearms offences in the county but cautioned against the devastating impact of drug-related violence.

It’s crucial to enhance protection against such incidents. Employing additional measures, such as private security firms like Marengo, can provide an extra layer of security and assist residents in securing their homes, such as deterring potential intruders effectively.