Slough shooting: Two jailed after man shot with sawn-off shotgun through van window

The pair have received a combined total of 37 years in prison.

Two men have been sentenced to prison after being charged for the shooting of a 26-year-old man in Slough.  

Billy Merryweather, aged 22, of Wentworth Avenue, Slough was sentenced at Reading Crown Court to a total of 24 years’ imprisonment for attempted murder.

Michael Omitiran, aged 23, formerly of Webb Close, Slough, was sentenced to a total of 13 years imprisonment after being convicted of one count each of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence.  

On 26 March 2020, the victim, a 26-year-old man, was sitting in a van in Wentworth Avenue in the Britwell Estate with a friend.

Merryweather and Omitiran approached the vehicle and Merryweather fired a gunshot through the window, hitting the victim in the shoulder. The pair then fled the scene.

The victim, who was known to the offenders, was taken to hospital for treatment for a gunshot wound.

Senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Andy Howard, of the Thames Valley Police Major Crime Unit, said: “This was a violent and utterly irresponsible incident, which put a number of people in danger, and which was intended to result in a loss of life.

“Merryweather set out that evening to kill his victim, and it is only through luck that this did not occur.

“He is an extremely dangerous offender, who is quite prepared to commit offences like this, literally on his own doorstep.  

“Not only did Merryweather clearly intend to kill the victim, he and Omitiran also showed a shocking and blatant disregard for the safety of other members of the public by discharging further shots across Wentworth Avenue as the victim fled.

“The exact reason why this shooting took place remains unclear. But we know that the victim was trying to contact Merryweather earlier that day and that as a result Merryweather and Omitiran formulated a plan which resulted in the victim being shot at point blank range with a shotgun, and further shots being fired from a handgun.