A man who shot at three people, injuring two of the victims, at a petrol station in Enfield has been sentenced today (Friday 20 December) at the Old Bailey.

Admir Bregaj, 26, (16.01.1987) of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 23 years for three counts of attempted murder and five years to run concurrently for one count of possession of firearm.

Originally from Albania, Bregaj will be deported after he has served his sentence.

Bregaj earlier pleaded guilty to all offences at the same court on 4 December 2013.

On Saturday 7 September 2013 at 22:20hrs, police were called to a petrol station at Chase Side, Southgate N14 to reports of a man having been shot.

Police attended and discovered a man with gunshot injuries. He was taken by London Ambulance Service to a north London hospital. Shortly after, a second male subsequently attended another London hospital with gunshot injuries.

The investigation, led by the Metropolitan Police Service’s Trident Gang Crime Command, established that at about 22:15hrs the three male victims [A/B/C] attended the petrol station in order to meet a man regarding a business venture, an alleged car wash business. After being at the station for only a couple of minutes two men arrived on foot.

An argument broke out between the three victims and the two men when the defendant Admir Bregaj arrived at the scene. Bregaj approached the victims and pulled a gun from the front of his trousers which was initially hidden by his black leather jacket. Bregaj then fired the gun and one of the victims [victim A] jumped into his car in an effort to escape. Bregaj kept firing bullets causing damage to the vehicle.

Another victim [victim B] tried to get into the same car but Bregaj saw him and chased him around the car, continuing to fire shots at him, one of which hit him in the buttock. The third victim [victim C] tried to disarm Bregaj but he shot him in the pelvis. Bregaj fired another shot that hit the floor and rebounded – hitting the same victim [C] in the ankle. Bregaj then ran off.

Luckily victim A escaped without injury.

At least seven shots were fired during the incident – police recovered six casings from the scene and one was lodged in victim A’s vehicle.

Reactive enquiries led police to identify Bregaj as the suspect. He was arrested on the 8 October 2013 and subsequently charged and remanded in custody.

Detective Inspector Glenn Butler, Trident Gang Crime Command, said: “This significant sentence reflects the serious nature of this offence. Bregaj fired numerous shots in a public area over a seemingly trivial argument about a business venture. This would have been a terrifying experience for the victims, who thankfully have now made a full recovery from their injuries.

“I hope this result sends a clear message that Trident officers will continue to relentlessly pursue and bring to justice those individuals who bring harm to their communities through acts of violence, gun and gang criminality.

“If you have any information on gun and gang crime please do not hesitate in contacting the police.”