Dad with ‘heart of gold’ shot dead by mistake months after getting all-clear from cancer

A dad with the ‘biggest heart of gold’ was shot dead in a drive-by just months after being given the all-clear from cancer.

Innocent Dale Stogden, 50, was not the intended target of the shooting at a bus stop in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, on August 12 last year.

Known to friends and family as Brett, he had only recently been given a ‘second chance’ after overcoming lung cancer.

His daughters Piper and Alyssa said: ‘Dad had the biggest heart of gold and no matter what he was going through he always had a smile on his face.’

Leyton Davies, 28, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of murder following a two-week trial at Leeds Crown Court.

Adam Ahmed, 21, of Wakefield, and Marc Carter, 20, formerly of Wakefield, were both convicted of manslaughter.

All three had previously admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs including heroin and cocaine.

During the trial, jurors heard that Brett had been standing with a friend near a bus stop outside a BP petrol station.

Two other men who had also been there ran off immediately after the shooting – and investigators believe they may have been the intended targets.

Chilling CCTV shows the trio circling the area in the moments leading up to the shooting.

Messages between them suggested they were searching for the two men seen at the bus stop.

More CCTV showed Ahmed hiding a machete before they climbed into a stolen Toyota RAV4 used in the attack.

The vehicle had been taken during a burglary in Castleford, West Yorks., and was being driven with cloned number plates.

Ahmed was behind the wheel with Carter in the front passenger seat and Davies sitting behind him.

The court heard Ahmed initially drove past Brett and the group outside the bus stop before making a U-turn.

As the vehicle slowed, Davies fired a single shot from the open window before Ahmed sped away.

The weapon used in the killing has never been recovered.

However, investigators believe it was a converted blank firing pistol.

The abandoned RAV4 was found the following day.

Enquiries with taxi companies revealed the trio had been picked up by a driver shortly afterwards and made several stops before being dropped off at Davies’ home address.

All three men were arrested on August 15 and charged three days later.

They have remained in custody since.

Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle said: ‘From what we now understand of this crime, it looks like Brett was not the intended target of this shooting.

‘However, as was made clear throughout this trial, killing the wrong person is no defence.

‘Him not being the target certainly does not take away from the grief that Brett’s family and friends’ have suffered.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Comments Add as preferred source