Two men have been jailed after accidentally shooting each other during a botched attack in Smethwick, West Midlands Police have said.
Adam Liaqat and Asad Khan were parked on St Paul's Road at just before 04:30 GMT on November 23 last year when Liaqat's firearm discharged by mistake, leaving Khan with serious leg injuries.
The Mitsubishi Outlander the pair were occupying had been stolen from Rowley Regis the previous evening, police said. Investigations established that Khan had exchanged messages indicating he and Liaqat were on their way to conduct a shooting before the mishap occurred.
Khan was taken to hospital by taxi, where he initially gave a unclear account of the incident. Both men were convicted of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Liaqat was sentenced to 15 years and Khan to 13 years imprisonment. A third man, Yakuba Sawaneh, was jailed for three-and-a-half years in connection with the incident.
The case highlights the severe consequences of illegal firearm possession and the dangers of planned violent acts that result in accidental injury.
