Cage fighter concerned in UK’s greatest money theft left paralysed after gun assault
A man was hit twice by a gunman who fired at him over a fence from a neighbour’s garden, a court has heard – the ‘career criminal’ had been released from prison after serving for an armed raid
A former cage fighter who was part of Britain’s biggest cash heist was left paralysed after being shot in the neck while in his kitchen, the Old Bailey heard.
Paul Allen, 46, narrowly escaped death when a gunman shot him from over a fence in a neighbour’s garden. The “career criminal” had been out of prison following his involvement in the notorious £54million Securitas depot robbery in Tonbridge, Kent, back in 2006. He was struck by bullets through his window at his plush pad in Woodford, east London, around 11pm on July 11, 2019.
Daniel Kelly, 46, and siblings Stewart Ahearne, 46, and Louis Ahearne, 35, are facing trial at the Old Bailey, charged with conspiring to off the crook. Prosecutor Michael Shaw told the court that the trio from Woolwich, south east London, scoped out the scene and planned the botched assassination for two weeks.
Starting the proceedings, Mr Shaw explained: “Gunshots were fired at a man called Paul Allen as he stood in the kitchen at the back of his large detached house. Paul Allen is a career criminal and a very sophisticated criminal at that. He was convicted a number of years ago for his part in what was then, and probably still is, Britain’s biggest armed robbery in which £54million in cash was stolen, much of which is still outstanding.”
Gunmen unleashed a hail of bullets from a 9mm Glock pistol, firing six shots from behind a garden fence. Two of the bullets ripped into the victim, hitting him in the throat and spine, a court was told, reports the Mirror.
Prosecutor Mr Shaw said: “The intention of the men who planned and carried out this shooting was to kill him. You will have no doubt about that when you hear the evidence. They very nearly succeeded.”
The sound of gunfire echoed through the streets of Woodford, prompting multiple 999 calls, jurors heard. Mr Shaw added: “At least six bullets were fired at him from that Glock handgun, two of which struck him. One hit him in the centre of the throat and left him paralysed for life.”
The victim’s life was saved by the swift actions of neighbours, police, paramedics, and surgeons who removed the bullet from his spine.
Neighbours found the victim’s partner, Jade Bovingdon, frantically screaming for an ambulance as the victim struggled to breathe, slumped in the hallway with a towel pressed to his neck. One of the bullets had also left his little finger “virtually amputated”, Mr Shaw said.
The prosecutor told the jury: “Three of the men who planned and carried out the attack are in the dock at this crown court today.”
Kelly, sporting a blue shirt and a shaven head, was seen perusing court documents, surrounded by court security. Stewart Ahearne, donning a dark suit with reading glasses resting on his bald head, rose when introduced to the jury.
His brother, dressed in a grey suit and pink shirt, maintained a straight gaze when his name was called out. Mr Shaw pointed out that the suspects “made a lot of mistakes”.
He revealed that DNA allegedly belonging to Kelly and Louis Ahearn was found on a fence panel at the crime scene. A sight for a Glock handgun, used to enhance accuracy, was reportedly later discovered at Kelly’s residence.
The court heard that burner phones and rented vehicles were utilised to orchestrate the attack. All three defendants vehemently deny one count of conspiracy to murder between June 26 and July 12 2019.
The trial is set to continue.
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