Man admits shooting on doorstep

Barry Simpson was shot from a distance of just three to five feet

A man has admitted shooting a father on his doorstep in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire.

Barry Simpson, 33, was just three to five feet away when Gary McFadyen, 26, opened fire with a sawn-off shotgun.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Mr Simpson's chest was peppered with shotgun pellets some of which were embedded in his ribs.

McFadyen admitted a charge of attempted murder and a firearms offence. He will be sentenced later this month.

Derick Nelson, prosecuting, told the court that just before the attack Mr Simpson and a neighbour had spoken to two women about their comings and goings at the flat in Blantyre.

One of them, Danielle Hughes, was McFadyen's girlfriend.

Realising it was a gun Mr Simpson tried to close the door, but the gun was fired striking him in his left side Derick Nelson Prosecuting

Mr Nelson said the two women were told to leave by Mr Simpson's neighbour.

He added: "This did not go down well and they could be heard complaining loudly."

"The neighbour come out of his flat where upon an argument began with Barry Simpson also leaving his flat to join in and usher the two women from the close."

The women complained to McFadyen, who armed himself with a sawn-off shotgun and returned to the flat at Ballantrae Road in Blantyre.

Large wound

Mr Nelson said: "McFadyen, who was three to five feet from Mr Simpson, pointed the gun at him.

"Realising it was a gun Mr Simpson tried to close the door, but the gun was fired striking him in his left side."

Mr Simpson was taken to Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride, with a large wound to his lower chest.

He went through an exploratory operation during which 17 pellets were removed.

McFadyen admitted attempting to murder Mr Simpson on 22 January this year.

His girlfriend Danielle Hughes and her friend Alana Brankin, were originally charged with attempted murder, but were freed after the prosecution accepted their pleas of not guilty.