A gun thug jailed for life this week for shooting an elderly farmer twice in a terrifying bungalow raid had shot a jewellery salesman 14 years earlier after the homeowner stabbed him to protect himself.
Alan Daniels, known as a "gun-for-hire" in underworld circles, was the ringleader of a Kirkby-based gang that stormed a rural property, plundered valuables and left 65-year-old Charles Baldwin with life-changing injuries in a display of "gratuitous and wholly unnecessary violence."
The now-39-year-old was handed a life sentence yesterday for his role leading the armed mob who terrorised the pig farmer and his girlfriend Patria Muscelles at their home in Aughton, West Lancashire.
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Daniels must serve at least close to 15 years before he can be considered for release by the Parole Board, which is not automatic.
And it can now be revealed how the career criminal also shot a jewellery salesman in his left leg and right foot after raiding his home in 2005.
Daniels flew into a rage after the victim produced a knife and stabbed him in the chest to try and protect himself and get the thug off his property.
The crook screamed at the man to drop the knife and then opened fire.
Moments earlier, Daniels had burst into the property, shouting, 'Where's your f***ing gold?' and threatening to "blow the salesman's head off."
For that shooting, he was jailed for eight years in 2006.
His background was also referred to in a different case when another gun criminal, Darren Russell speaking to his girlfriend on the phone from prison, tried to recruit Daniels, nicknamed "Docker" to exact revenge after a drive-by shooting at his family's home in Bootle.
In December last year, barrister Julian Nutter attempted to downplay Daniels' criminal past in a bid to secure a lesser sentence for his own gun client, Russell, as he told a judge: "Daniels is a man who has a number of convictions relating to shooting people, but in the legs.
"A wholly unpalatable prospect, but not shooting them and murdering them."
In May 2017, Daniels was also part of a Kirkby-based gang jailed for a total of 21 years for a series of burglaries and robberies.
Up to 15 offences were committed across the north of England, over a three month period, as the thugs wielded a crow bar and a claw hammer.
Daniels was handed a one year and seven month sentence at Liverpool Crown Court.
It also emerged at Preston Crown Court yesterday - when accomplices Anthony Hill, Craig Reynolds and Dean Sanders were also jailed with significant sentences for their part in the Aughton raid - that Daniels was in intensive care for nine weeks following his arrest after contracting Covid-19.
He is likely to be taking long-term medication as a result, his barrister Lloyd Morgan said.
The lawyer had argued that a life sentence was "not justified" for his client's actions, but the judge disagreed, and also ruled Daniels a "dangerous offender" who posed a serious risk to the public.
Judge Knowles said Daniels and his accomplices had "caused appalling and wholly unnecessary suffering to two decent and innocent people who were brutally terrorised in their own home."
In a detailed address to the four men in the dock, on Monday, he described how it was unclear how many men entered the bungalow on Home Farm, Back Lane, apart from Daniels, but recounted how they were all wearing gloves, hoods, balaclavas and each robber had their own gun which was loaded.
They had announced their arrival at the countryside farm on the evening of July 28, 2019, by shooting at the summerhouse where Mr Baldwin was sleeping after a day's work, "blowing the door off" and shouting: "Get out or we'll shoot you out."
New details emerged also of one thug even warning Ms Musselle: "We're going to shoot you, love," as a gun was placed close to her foot.
Mr Baldwin was twice shot, in the knee and ankle, due to Daniels not being happy with the speed of him complying with his demands, and also appearing unhappy with the quantity of loot available to steal.
The gun was bashed into the pig farmer's teeth, which the ringleader "took great delight in" and he ripped out the phone lines as the gang left, warning the couple not to ring the police for an hour before issuing a chilling death threat.
A further threat was made to shoot Mr Baldwin in his "d***."
Judge Knowles detailed the huge physical and mental injuries suffered by the couple, Mr Baldwin set to have his foot amputated on Thursday after two years of countless operations, and his partner suffering a significant mental toll and once speaking of "feeling like driving my car into a wall to get some peace."
He added: "The object was not merely to rob but to instil terror, for whatever reason, with the sheer number of men, all armed with shotguns.
"There was no need to shoot Mr Baldwin at all, the violence was gratuitous and extreme.
"There was a degree of degradation of Mr Baldwin on Daniels' part and sadism.
"He was left without medical attention despite the most appalling injury.
"To continue to attack an injured victim was nothing short of wicked.
"There is no remorse of any value from any of these men."
Daniels, of Oaklee Drive, Kirkby, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob, possession of a firearm with intent, and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, denying any involvement for a considerable period of time before changing his plea just before trial when incontrovertible DNA evidence placed him at the bungalow.
His fingerprints on a paper knife used to cut a gold bracelet from Mr Baldwin's wrist saw him finally admit his crimes "to save his own skin," the judge said.
Anthony Hill, 40, of Oakdale Close, Kirkby, Craig Reynolds, 36, of Birchmuir Hey, Kirkby, and Dean Sanders, 32, of St Andrews Court, North Shields, denied the offences, but were all found guilty after a trial of conspiracy to rob and having a firearm with intent.
A fifth man was found not guilty by the jury.
Hill was handed 20 years, Sanders 19 years and Reynolds an extended sentence of 28 years, which also included five years for a separate case of firearms possession.
During the robbery, four shotguns, a poacher’s gun, a quantity of cash, a Raymond Veil watch worth about £500, a silver cuff bracelet worth about £160, a platinum diamond ring worth £5,000, car keys and a yellow gold bracelet worth £3,000 were stolen.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Jason Richardson, of Lancashire Police, said: “The sentencing is the end of a long-running investigation into a savage and brutal robbery, which left a man with serious, life-changing injuries which he will never fully recover from.
“The damage caused to the victim’s leg, in particular his ankle, was catastrophic and has required a number of operations. He was hospitalised for several weeks and still today, is suffering serious complications following the savage injuries that were inflicted on him by the offenders.
“The attackers, under the impression there was a large amount of money at the address, showed extreme levels of violence to try and get what they wanted – making off with guns, cash, watches and jewellery, which have not been recovered.
“It is clear these individuals are very dangerous and very violent offenders and I am pleased they have been handed significant sentences which reflect the gravity of their actions."
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