Shot student says life 'ruined'

A Nottingham man who was shot in the back four years ago says his life has been devastated by his injuries.

Tommy Lau, 27, was visiting friends in the village of East Stoke near Newark when somebody shot him through a glass door in a case of mistaken identity.

He was paralysed from the waist down and had to give up studying fashion at Nottingham Trent University.

Police are trying to trace a motorbike seen nearby at the time and a £10,000 reward is being offered in the case.

Bullet in spine

"All of a sudden there was a bang and I thought it was a firework - but I looked over my shoulder and saw smoke coming out of my back."

Police will not disclose the identify of the intended victim.

The bullet is still lodged in Mr Lau's spine.

"I have had to make a lot of sacrifices but I am married so I have to get on with my life," he said.

He appealed for anyone with information about the shooting to come forward.

Police are looking for a trial or off-road motorcycle that was seen in the area at the time of the shooting.

Supt Ian Waterfield said: "He's never been involved in anything like this in his life, he's never been involved in criminality, he's just been getting on with his life and somebody's put him in a wheelchair through one cowardly incident."