A woman has recalled the moment she "thought she had died" after she was injured by a rogue shotgun.
Caitlin Heaphy was in Clapham, southwest London when she was suddenly struck by a bullet from a "loaded" shotgun. Brolynn Dangi, 18, was driving a scooter through the area, whilst Keymarni King, 18, was a passenger in the back, on March 1.
The pair failed to stop when police intercepted their "ride out" and they lost control of the scooter in the chase. King dropped the weapon outside The Belle Vue pub in Clapham Common as they ran off. Unfortunately, Ms Heaphy endured serious injuries alongside another woman named Grace Forno. A man, aged 27, was also harmed when he was "flung in the air" by the Piaggio Vespa while on a pedestrian crossing, Inner London Crown Court heard.
King admitted wounding the two women after the gun went off, along with breaching a criminal behaviour order which stated he must not associate with Dangi. Dangi admitted dangerous driving and possession of the shotgun and they were both jailed for seven years and seven months in prison.
Prosecuting Arabella MacDonald said: "It is the prosecution case that this had all the hallmarks of a ride-out, but they were interrupted by Inspector Khan before they could achieve their goal. When confronted, they fled on the Vespa, turning and driving on the wrong side of the road, away from the police.
"The Vespa collided with a member of the public, Boris Baptiste while he was using a pedestrian crossing, he was knocked to the floor and hit his head. Either Mr Dangi lost control, or he chose to abandon the scooter. They continued on foot down Clapham Park Road. While running, Mr King dropped the sawn-off shotgun which was loaded with live ammunition. It hit the ground and went off twice hitting two members of the public, Grace Forno and Caitlin Heaphy."
Ms Forno suffered a puncture wound to her right knee, while Ms Heaphy had three pellet wounds, one to her forehead and two on her legs, a court heard. "Neither of the men stopped after the shotgun discharged, the suspects continued running along Clapham Park Road and began jumping over fences of properties," added Ms MacDonald.
King and Dangi were both known members of the LTH gang and were travelling into rival "ClapTown" gang territory when they encountered the police. In a victim impact statement, Ms Heaphy admitted she "thought she had died" when the shots hit her, and has struggled with severe anxiety ever since. Defending King, Tom Edwards said: "It was once the shotgun struck the floor that it was discharged, there was no deliberate input from Mr King. The recklessness of carrying a firearm in very poor but I would submit that it demonstrates a stupidity, rather than a level of danger that your honour would need to find."