Caravan park shooting: Three men jailed over revenge attack which left two men with horrific injuries

Shaun McDermott, 36, fired the shots which left two men with life-changing injuries in the attack at a caravan park in Tingley.

He was found guilty of two counts of attempted murder during a trial at Leeds Crown Court earlier this year.

Two other defendants, “ringleader” Richard Bathie, 53, and his son Joshua Bathie, 19, were found guilty of two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

ll three defendants were found guilty of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

William Price and Patrick Doran were shot following a series of tit-for-tat attacks when violence erupted at a Christening party.

The planned attack took place on the afternoon of Sunday August 8 last year.

The court heard how Richard Bathie, his son Joshua and godson McDermott set off on a "premeditated" expedition to the caravan park, following violent incidents earlier in the day.

CCTV footage from the Bathies’ farm, on Woodhouse Lane, East Ardsley, showed Joshua Bathie carrying a shotgun and his father backing the JCB digger out of a farm building.

They also armed themselves with a "scythe-style weapon" and a machete.

John Elvidge, prosecuting, said: “The attack was planned and it was premeditated.”

The three defendants drove to the caravan park close to the M62, in Dunningley Lane, where Richard Bathie used the digger to block the exit.

The yard was home to many of Mr Price’s family, including women and young children who were present at the time of the attack.

All three defendants then got out of the vehicles carrying the shotgun and weapons.

During the trial, witnesses described the series of "rapid and shocking events" that then took place.

The windows of cars parked alongside caravans were smashed.

The double-barrelled shotgun was discharged, re-loaded and fired again.

McDermott was seen holding the gun and firing it at Mr Price as he tried to grab the barrel during a scuffle.

Mr Doran was then shot and had fingers blown off his hand.

A second shot was then aimed at his groin.

The Bathies and McDermott drove back to the farm on Woodhouse Lane.

They handed the gun to a fourth man, Edward Senior, and it was eventually concealed in a large stack of hay bales.

Senior, 26, of Dewsbury Road, Tingley, pleaded guilty to doing an act intended to pervert the course of justice during the trial.

Mr Doran and Mr Price suffered life-changing injuries in the attack and have both had to undergo a series of operations.

The court heard today that Mr Doran is suffering from PTSD.

In a victim impact statement, he said he was “constantly looking over his shoulder”, while Mr Price said he lives in a “constant state of panic”.

McDermott, of Batley Road, Tingley, has previous convictions for “relatively minor” offences including criminal damage, the court heard.

Richard Bathie, of Woodhouse Lane, East Ardsley, has a previous conviction for assault in 1986, while Joshua Bathie, of the same address, has no previous convictions.

Mitigating for Joshua Bathie, Satyanand Beharrylal said: “It is one thing for a young man to be influenced by peers - it’s another thing to be influenced by a family member, and a family member with authority.

“This is very much a young man who followed, rather than led. He accepts responsibility for his actions. He wishes he could turn back time.”

During mitigation, the court heard that Richard Bathie had “contributed significantly to the local economy” as the owner of the farm, while it was said that McDermott had a “commendable work record”.

Passing his sentencing remarks, Judge Rodney Jameson QC said that Richard Bathie was “principally responsible” for the caravan park attack.

He concluded that McDermott was “much less culpable” than both of the Bathies, until the moment he took the shotgun from the pick-up truck.

The judge took into account Joshua Bathie’s age when committing the offence and concluded he played a lesser role than his father.

Speaking to all three defendants, Judge Jameson said: “There was some time, as you all drove some miles from the family farm to the yard, to reflect on what you were doing and to stop.

“That didn’t happen.”

Judge Jameson added that the attack had caused severe psychological and physical harm to both victims, as well as harm to those who were at the caravan park at the time of the attack.

He said: “This was a group attack at the home of a family, including innocent women and children.

“It is apparent the impact on the whole family has been immense and is likely to be lifelong.”

McDermott was sentenced to 34 years in prison.

Richard Bathie was handed 21 years in jail and must serve at least 14 years before he is released.

Joshua Bathie was sentenced to 15 years in a young offender’s institution - and will eventually be moved to an adult jail.

Senior is due to be sentenced on September 5 this year.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Vanessa Rolfe, said: “This was a truly shocking incident where a legally-held firearm was used with potentially murderous consequences in a premeditated attack fuelled by rage and the thirst for revenge.

“The victims suffered absolutely horrendous injuries and could easily have been killed. They have both been left with serious physical injuries and mental trauma that will affect them for the rest of their lives.

“McDermott fired the shots, but Richard and Joshua Bathie are just as guilty as he is, as they knew full well they were going after the victims with a loaded shotgun bent on bloody revenge.

“Regardless of the events leading up to the shooting, there can be absolutely no justification for the appalling actions of these three.”