Two brothers who shot at people who were trying to steal their motorbikes have been jailed for 44 years. 

On March 8, 2020, a group of people tried to steal some motorbikes from a communal car park Cooper’s Close in Greenhithe. 

A resident disturbed the attempted theft and the group fled empty handed. 

The bikes’ owners, Christopher and Colin Nouse, decided to arm themselves with guns in case the would-be thieves returned. 

A short time later two men returned to the thieves and were shot at by Christopher and Colin. 

One man received gunshot injuries to his arm. 

As police rushed to the scene the brothers fled to Christopher’s home on Ospringe Close in Penge. 

Officers recovered six 9mm calibre and nine 0.4 inch calibre ammunition casings at the scene. 

Colin and Cristopher returned to the scene while officers were still there and they were arrested. 

Both men’s homes were searched and firearm accessories, a spent 0.4 inch calibre cartridge, a lock knife and a taser were found. 

Forensic examination of the vehicles located 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. 

Christopher, 45, and Colin, 42, were charged with attempted murder but both men pleaded not guilty. 

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

On Wednesday (December 20) Christopher was jailed for 30 years and Colin for 14 years. 

Detective Superintendent Gavin Moss, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, 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 at using violence and Greenhithe is a safer place now they are safely behind bars.”