by A man carrying a toy gun went after a teenage boy was knelt down during a shooting outside a convenience store.
Michael Costello was hauled before Liverpool Crown Court this week after firefighters saw him pull the fake firearm from his trousers during an altercation at the Western Approaches pub in Croxteth. He was then whisked away in a taxi, telling the driver he was “quick” before firing the fake weapon into his ex-partner’s bathroom.
The ECHO previously reported that the 35-year-old, of Knighton Road in Walton, fell victim after gunman Joel Harvey, then 16, opened fire with a pistol in a “revenge” attack ” on Prescot Road in Old Swan. The youth was then linked to another incident in which another man was shot in the chest weeks later in Broadgreen.
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A trial heard that Harvey, of Lindisfarne Drive i CroxtethCostello was shot with a Grand Power G9A self-loading pistol in the early hours of 11 December 2021. Henry Riding, prosecuting, described how the youth took an Alfa taxi from Baden Road in Old Swan, where he was staying with his grandmother, to One Stop on Prescot Road at about 2.30am and then back again.
CCTV footage captured both parties outside the shop during this visit. Costello remained in the area shortly after 3am, when he was approached by two men riding an e-bike, wearing dark clothing and their faces covered.
It was at this point that Harvey, who had recruited an accomplice to transport him to the scene after returning to his grandmother’s house to collect the gun, fired three shots – hitting his target with two. Costello suffered a broken left knee and another bullet went through his right thigh, requiring surgery on both legs.
It was suspected that the shooting was carried out “in revenge or revenge” for a previous attack by Costello or because of a “preexisting grudge”. The same gun was then used to shoot Lewis Cottage, a man in his 20s, at around 9pm on January 16, 2022, on the Green in Broadgreen.
He turned up at the Royal Liverpool Hospital that evening after suffering gunshot wounds to his chest and arms. Harvey’s DNA was found on one of two fired cartridge cases recovered by the police from the scene.
The teenager was convicted of wounding with intent, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, two charges of possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life and possession of ammunition after a trial. Appearing via video link at HMP Wetherby this morning, he showed no emotion as he was given 12-and-a-half years behind bars and an additional two-and-a-half years on licence.
Sentencing, Judge Clement Goldstone KC said: “Either because of something that was said to you or expressed about you, or because of a pre-existing grudge against him because of something that did it for you or a friend, you decided it was necessary. So you returned to your grandmother’s house next door, armed yourself with a loaded and lethal automatic self-loading pistol and commissioned another man to drive you back to the store on an e-bike in the hope and faith that Michael Costello would still be there.
“He was still there, and as you rode down on the back of the e-bike you fired three shots in total. The cartridges you fired hit him twice and caused serious, if not life-threatening, injuries.
“The pistol was one that you already had in your possession or one that you were ready with, no questions asked. Despite being arrested and interviewed twice, in fact on suspicion not only of offenses firearm but also for attempted murder, you were completely unfazed by the experience and moved on to commit the last series of offenses which would inevitably lead to another shooting with intent on your life putting victims at risk if you weren’t caught when you were.”
The same court heard on Monday that fire crews were returning to Croxteth Fire Station on Storrington Avenue shortly before 8.30pm on May 21 last year after a call out. But, as they made their way down Lower House Lane on the way, the driver heard shouting outside the pub and saw Costello “with his hands in the air” and then “messing around with something in his waistband”. trousers” he believed. be a firearm.
Mr Riding, who appeared for the prosecution again during Costello’s sentencing hearing, described how he began pointing the item towards the entrance of the property before entering. But he disappeared again shortly afterwards, causing a vehicle to “speed off at an alarming rate”.
Members of the fire service then accosted Costello as he got into a taxi, which took him to his former home a short distance away. Armed police later arrested him when he left the address and found a plastic gun and a BB gun in the downstairs toilet.
The occupant’s 12-year-old son reported seeing the defendant go into the bathroom and leave the toy inside. The taxi driver later told officers that Costello admitted to him that he was “arguing with some guy who he didn’t know was strapped in” and “started tapping on his side”.
When interviewed, he gave a prepared statement to detectives alleging that he was in fact carrying a bottle of rum which he had “taken to consume at the pub”. His previous convictions include a recent community order for affray and possession of an offensive weapon.
Kate Morley, defending, told the court: “He is very remorseful for his actions. He was in a bad mental state at the time.
“He was double-crossed under the Mental Health Act last year. He is in a much better mental state.
“He can’t remember well because of his mental state at the time. He was all over the place mentally.
“He was in a bad place. He deeply regrets his actions.”
Costello admitted to carrying an imitation firearm in a public place. He was given a five-month prison sentence suspended for one year, a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days and a program requirement.
Sentencing him, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, Judge Andrew Menary KC, said: “I have no doubt that you had something in your hand, which looked like a black handgun. What that meant, I don’t know.
“You didn’t reveal what it was. You assumed you had a toy gun, but you found it in the gutter by chance that night.
“I will reject this explanation. The fact is, for whatever reason, for whatever reason, that night you saw the opportunity to pick up something that looked like a handgun, intending that people believed that it was a handgun.
“You have to realize how close you are to a more serious charge. You have been struggling with your mental health for some time.
“I am happy that you would get some support from the probation service. You are a carer for your mother, and you have your own health problems.
“I hope you can put this matter behind you now.”
Costello replied: “Well done, your honor.”
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