Armed South Yorkshire thug jailed after shooting man in leg with a shotgun

Sheffield Crown Court heard on September 14 how Nathan Harrod, aged 25, of Wilford Road, Barnsley, fell out with a man following the death of a mutual friend and when his efforts to make peace were rejected he shot him in the leg with a shotgun.

Abdul Shakoor, prosecuting, said there was animosity between the two men after a mutual friend had died and while the complainant was visiting a friend on Wollaton Close, Athersley, Barnsley, Harrod turned up and offered to shake hands but this was rejected.

About 30 minutes later, Harrod returned and hid in the garden with a shotgun, according to Mr Shakoor, and as the complainant came to the door he saw a friend of Harrod’s and then heard a loud bang followed by a further shot and he was hit in the leg.

Mr Shakoor said the incident has affected the complainant physically and psychologically, and he added: “He’s been left with a permanent limp and long-term muscle damage and nerve pain and he suffers excruciating pain and he’s anxious and jumpy and nervous all the time and unable to sleep.”

Harrod, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and to possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life after the incident on December 20, 2019.

Richard Reed, defending, said Harrod and the complainant had blamed each other for the death of their mutual friend and the complainant refused to shake his hand and made a threat but this did not justify Harrod’s actions.

Judge Slater told Harrod: “I am prepared to accept you are genuinely remorseful for what has occurred and I accept during your time on remand you have done your utmost and tried your hardest to keep in line with prison discipline.”

Harrod also pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm after he and Scott Johnstone, aged 24, of Athersley Crescent, Barnsley, and a third individual, who cannot be named for legal reasons, attacked a man on Belmont Avenue, Barnsley, in September, 2018. Johnstone, who has previous convictions, also admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Mr Shakoor said the complainant in this incident had been looking for an unconnected group causing trouble when he was approached aggressively by Harrod and Johnstone’s co-accused before Harrod and Johnstone got involved and all three set about the complainant who suffered an estimated 20 blows.

The complainant was initially struck from behind with a weapon, according to Mr Shakoor, and a machete was recovered from the scene but it is not known if Harrod or Johnstone delivered this blow.

Mr Reed said Harrod accepted using his feet during this attack but not a weapon and Christopher Dunn, defending, said Johnstone has had to wait a considerable time for his sentencing and he has been very worried about the outcome.

Judge Slater sentenced Harrod to ten years of custody and Johnstone received 12 months of custody suspended for two years with a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.