A ‘shooter’ from Uxbridge and his driver from Hayes teamed up to assassinate an associate’s love rival, a court has heard.

Bernard Pillay, 41, of Campion Close, Uxbridge, was the gunman, and Mark O’Neil, 41, of Lansbury Drive, Hayes, got the job of driving Mr Pillay to Luton to carry out the shooting, a jury at Luton Crown Court was told.

But Mr Pillay bodged the job, only badly injuring Atif Ali after the pair deliberately crashed their car into Mr Ali’s silver Audi as he drove to work in Luton last year.

When Mr Ali got out to inspect the damage, it is alleged, a man got out of the other vehicle and fired a sawn off, double barreled shotgun at him from close range.

The court was told incident arose from a long-running feud between Mr Ali and Shahzad Mahroof, 28, of Selbourne Road in Luton, over Mr Mahroof’s supposed interest in Mr Ali’s fiancee, and his wish to have her for himself.

Stuart Trimmer QC, prosecuting, told how the blast caused serious life threatening injuries to Mr Ali, who was shot in his upper left thigh.

The gunman is said to have got back into the other car, a Ford Mondeo, which then drove off.

Mr Ali, who was 27 at the time, needed life-saving surgery.

Mr Trimmer was outlining the prosecution’s case against six men said to have been part of a conspiracy to murder Mr Ali on the morning of Monday, May 20 last year.

The jury was told that in the weeks and months leading up to the shooting, Mr Mahroof had made threats to Mr Ali and just a week before had shouted at him that he was a ‘dead man.’

Mr Trimmer said when the threats failed, arrangements were made for Mr Ali to be murdered.

The day before the shooting, Mr Mahroof is alleged to have purchased a Ford Mondeo for around £300.

It was this car, the jury was told, that was used to deliberately crash into the rear of Mr Ali’s car.

Also charged with conspiracy were Mahboob Baig, 31, of Overstone Road, Luton, and Sajed Hussain, 31, of Portland Road, Luton.

Mr Trimmer told the court: “It appears the planned shooting was botched by the hired assassin, Mr Pillay.

“This was a planned shooting in circumstances where death was plainly intended.”

The jury heard that Mr Mahroof – known as ‘Billy’ – had attempted to warn off his rival. In 2012, Mr Ali had been visited at his home by a number of men.

“Ali was told in no uncertain terms to stop messing with Billy’s girl. If he did not he was told he would be visited by serious people and would get seriously hurt,” said Mr Trimmer.

The shotgun was allegedly supplied by 23-year-old Matthew McCafferty ofRoman Way, Flitwick.

In court on Thursday, July 17, all six men denied conspiracy to murder Mr Ali.

Mr O’Neil, Mr McCafferty, Mr Baig and Mr Hussain deny conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm to him. The jury was told Mr Pillay and Mr Mahroof had admitted this charge.

Mr Mahroof also denies making a threat to kill Mr Ali, and Mr McCafferty denies a charge of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, having a firearm with intent, and possessing a prohibited firearm.

The case continues.

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