Two brothers jailed for 44 years after shooting in Kent

Two brothers have been jailed for a total of more than 40 years after a man was shot in the arm during an attempted motorbike theft.

In March 2020, brothers Christopher and Colin Nourse were alerted to a group attempting to steal motorbikes in a communal car park in Cooper Close, Greenhithe, Kent.

The group were initially forced to run away empty handed when they were disturbed by a resident.

When two of them returned to the scene, the brothers were waiting with guns and Christopher Nourse shot at the pair who were running away from the close. The brothers then left in separate vehicles and travelled to Christopher Nourse’s home in Ospringe Close, Penge.

Kent police said they received reports from residents who had heard the sound of gunshots and a man with bullet injuries to his arm who had arrived at Darent Valley Hospital.

Police officers recovered six 9mm calibre and nine 0.4 inch calibre ammunition casings at the scene. Two vehicles in the car park had also been damaged by the shots and, when the brothers returned while officers were still completing their enquiries, they were arrested.

The police said a search of Christopher Nourse’s home and Colin Nourse’s house in Cooper Close, led to the seizure of “firearms accessories”.

A gun cartridge, lock knife and a Taser were recovered from the two cars the brothers had used after the incident.

Forensic examination of the vehicles found gunshot residue and a spent ammunition casing which had traces of Colin Nourse’s DNA. Detectives later recovered a handgun used in the shooting that had been discarded under a car in Penge.

CCTV footage at Cooper Close examined by detectives showed the brothers leaving Colin Nourse’s address immediately before the shots were fired. The brothers were also forensically connected to bullet casings recovered at the scene.

In July 2022, Christopher Nourse was convicted of attempted murder and possession of a prohibited weapon, while Colin Nourse was found not guilty of attempted murder but guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

At Maidstone Crown Court yesterday, Christopher Nourse, aged 45, was jailed for a total of 30 years’ imprisonment and 42-year-old Colin Nourse was jailed for 14 years.

Detective Superintendent Gavin Moss, from Kent police, said: “These two men decided to arm themselves with firearms after somebody sought to steal their motorcycles.

“This was extremely reckless and, when one of them discharged his weapon in a residential area, it is only by chance that a member of the public unconnected with the incident did not suffer a fatal injury.

“It is apparent that Colin and Christopher Nourse are dangerous individuals who will not think twice about using violence, and Greenhithe is a safer place now they are safely behind bars.”

Pictured top: From left, brothers Christopher and Colin Nourse, jailed for more than 40 years (Picture: Kent police)