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Sophie Corcoran

Leeds thug Lucas White filmed himself with sawn-off shotgun before firing bullets at 'rival' in car

A man who filmed himself bragging about having a gun for his rival then shot at the man's range rover before being found by police with thousands of pounds worth of class A drugs.

Lucas White, 20, has found himself behind bars for over six years after being arrested in July last year by police.

Leeds Crown Court heard on Monday how in the same month of his arrest, White, of Bawn Drive in Farnley, had filmed himself in his car with a firearm. Prosecutor Conor Quinn said in the footage, a double-barrelled shot gun could be seen in the back seat. He added: "He said 'In the back for Chesney lad.'"

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The court heard the phrase related to a man named Stephen Crawley. Mr Quinn said: "The day after the film there was an explosion. A red Land Rover linked to Crawley was at the scene. Damage to the car was consistent with having been shot at. This was further supported by the fact there were messaged where Lucas White had said he had gone and shot at him before and his 'red landy' was burned out.

"A firearm was shot at Lucas White's address resulting in him moving to his grandad's."

The court was told on July 23, White was arrested after the car he was a passenger in - being driven by his co-defendant Luke Dickinson, 23, was involved in a police chase. Mr Quinn said: "They were eluding police tactics to stop them."

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Mr Quinn said a total of six police vehicles as well as the police helicopter were involved in the chase. He said: "They [White and Dickinson] were driving at speed and went into the central reservation and the vehicle flipped 360 degrees and landed on its wheels. They tried to continue driving before fleeing on foot and they were arrested."

It was said Dickinson appeared to be under the influence of drugs and accepted taking cocaine and cannabis before driving. He also accepted being disqualified from diving at the time.

The court heard a search of the vehicle found a "drug dealing" box which had dealer bags, a set of digital scales and several small knives inside. A Nokia phone was also found and Mr Quinn said it revealed "messaging advertising the sale of crack cocaine and cannabis."

Mr Quinn said: "After his arrested Lucas White drew attention to a small man bag he was wearing."

Inside the man bag 41 wraps of crack cocaine were found as were packages of cocaine, heroin and four bags of cannabis. The court heard the total street value of the drugs was around £1,484.

Luke Dickinson led police on a dramatic chase (West Yorkshire Police)

Mr Quinn added that £250 in cash was also found on White and two iPhones he had were analysed, which is when the video of him with the firearm was found.

Andrew Semple, mitigating for White, said a pre-sentence report had been prepared and references from his friends and family handed to the court. He said: "He is a very young man - he is just 2 and was a teenager at the time of offending. The pre-sentence report suggests he is very immature. There was no element of choice in him becoming head of the family as the oldest sibling and oldest son to a single mother who it is evident suffered a catalogue of brutality from partners."

The court was told White had no previous convictions but had become involved in a "rivalry" with associates of one of his mother's former partners. Mr Semple said: "HE struggled at school and left with no qualifications. It is clear he made efforts to maintain work. With his associates he began drug use perhaps as a form of escapism but accepts as does the author of the pre-sentence report he was unable to afford the drugs and was beholden to sell them."

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Mr Semple said White had volunteered the drugs found during his arrest. He added that White had pleaded guilty to the possession with intent to supply heroin, cocaine and cannabis charges at the magistrates' court and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence at a plea, trial and preparation hearing.

Samuel Ponniah, for Dickinson, said he had expressed "great remorse" for the offence of dangerous driving, which he said he "knows how dangerous it was to himself and members of the public." Mr Ponniah said: "He is looking forward to putting plans in place when he is out of custody whenever that is."

He added: "His family are a stablising factor in his life. His mum will be able to offer him stable accommodation and his aunt has sorted him a job which will be available for him when he gets out. He does often care for his nieces and nephews and has a daughter whose life he is not currently owing to this criminality. He is looking forward to that being something he works towards."

Dickinson also fell to be sentenced for three offences of possession with intent to supply - cocaine, heroin and cannabis. He was jailed for three years and eight months. His Honour Judge Batty jailed White for six years and six months.

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