Gunman fired five times after being pursued by machete wielding thugs in 'gang' attack

Yahoo

09-05-2025

A gunman pulled a loaded pistol out of his man bag and shot a man in a residential area after being pursued by a machete wielding gang.
Mccauly Brooker had been handed a 'threat to life' warning prior to the shocking incident in Oldham. Stephen Wilson, 29, and some unidentified associates had been hunting down Brooker prior to the attack, tracing his girlfriend to a street in Chadderton.
When they saw Brooker leave the property, the attackers, led by Wilson, chased after him through the streets. Wilson caught up with him after Brooker's trousers started to fall down.
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Wilson hit him to the head with the base of the machete, before his associates piled in and inflicted serious, life-threatening injuries as they struck out with machetes.
During a struggle with Wilson, Brooker, 24, took out his gun from his man bag and fired at least five times, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Wilson was shot to his arm. He was able to escape with his associates in the stolen VW Tiguan they had arrived in, and Wilson was dropped off at the Royal Oldham Hospital where he was treated for gunshot wounds.
He has since made a full recovery. Brooker was left bleeding in the street and could have died if he had not received timely medical treatment, the court heard. He suffered deep wounds to his face and body and has also recovered.
Judge Suzanne Goddard KC described the incident as a 'disgraceful explosion of violence, using deadly weapons in a residential street in Oldham'. She said it could 'so easily could have led to the death of one or both of you'.
'Such behaviour cannot be tolerated,' she told the pair. The background to the attack, on May 22 last year, remains unclear.
But the judge said: 'There must have been a serious criminal gang related undertone to these events.'
Defending Brooker, Mark Friend said his client was not the 'orchestrator' of the attack, and said trouble had come to his door. He said there is a 'very different side' to Brooker, who is held in 'high regard' by loved ones. Mr Friend said Brooker has suffered from mental health issues and was diagnosed with ADHD.
Defending Wilson, Paul Hodgkinson denied that his client had been the 'leader' of the 'gang' which had pursued Brooker. He said that Wilson had only hit Brooker to the head with the 'base' of the machete, adding that the other unidentified attackers had inflicted the more serious wounds.
He said that Wilson is a father and has expressed 'shame' for his actions.
Wilson, of Rosamund Drive, Salford, pleaded guilty to section 18 wounding and possessing an offensive weapon. He was acquitted of attempted murder following a trial. Brooker, of Highercroft Road, Eccles, pleaded guilty to section 18 wounding and possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
Wilson was declared a 'dangerous' offender and sentenced to 10 years and four months in prison, with an extra two years on licence. Brooker was jailed for seven years and one month.