Men jailed after carrying out petty disputes with firearms

Kane Barker (09/01/1990) was jailed for six years and one month after pleading guilty to possession of a prohibited weapon.

Johnny Joyce (09/11/1990) was jailed for seven years after he was found guilty of possession of a prohibited weapon.

In the early hours of the morning on Monday 5 April 2021, residents of Richmond Road, Failsworth woke to the sound of screams as a man fell victim to a sustained and bloody assault.

Police and emergency services were swiftly on the scene to attend to the victim, a man in his 30’s, but Barker and Joyce left the scene.

An investigation was launched by GMP Serious Organised Crime Group, despite the victim claiming his injuries were as a result of falling over. With multiple broken bones to his face and ribs, it became evident that the victim had been ‘pistol whipped’, beaten with the butt of a firearm.

On Friday 30 April, police arrested Kane Barker. A search of an address associated to Barker led police to recover a firearm hidden away in the roof space of his basement. Blood analysis of the weapon also matched the victim.

Phone analysis from a mobile which was seized from Barker’s car detailed numerous incriminating messages and pictures between himself and Johnny Joyce linking the two to the assault, including one text saying  “f***ing h*ll you done a proper job on him there boys”, and placing them on Richmond Road at the time of the assault.

Detective Inspector Richard Castley from GMP Serious Organised Crime Group said: “These men had no issue openly taking their own petty disputes into their own hands. Thugs capable of this kind of violence should not be on the streets of Greater Manchester and we will continue to ensure these men are behind bars for the foreseeable.”