A dangerous gunman who tried to shoot a man in a botched gangland hit has been caged at the High Court for 14 years.
Thug Darren Lethorn attempted to murder a man with a shotgun in Cardon Square, Renfrew, last summer.
The 34-year-old was jailed at the High Court this week as police condemned the “reprehensible” attack.
Gun toting maniac Lethorn pulled into the quiet residential car park in a white Audi RS3 at around 8.25pm on Thursday, June 27 last year before launching the mindless attack.
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He fired at a 36-year-old man near his flat but the bullet missed it’s intended target and smashed into a nearby property narrowly missing the innocent occupant.
Cops swooped on the normally peaceful housing complex in Renfrew taping off the flat and surrounding area as they hunted the shooter.
Specialist forensic cops and ballistics experts were drafted in to help the investigation before suspicion fell on gangland figure Lethorn, of Thornliebank near Glasgow.
He was arrested and charged with attempted murder and appeared in court.
One shocked resident described hearing a loud bang as she watched TV but thought it was a car backfiring, only later did she discover that it was in fact a shotgun going off.
Detectives probing the incident at the time described it as a “targeted” attack.
Yesterday, they praised the 14 year sentence handed down at the High Court, sitting in Paisley for two attempted murders.
Detective Inspector Robert Bowie, from Renfrewshire and Inverclyde’s Serious and Organised Crime Team, hit out at reckless gangster Lethorn.
He said: “The intent to inflict serious injury was Lethorn’s objective that day when he took the decision to point and fire a weapon at a man in public.
“His actions are reprehensible and unacceptable.
He added: “The sentence ensures our streets are safer and that Lethorn will spend a significant amount of time behind bars.”
