A SECURITY firm boss has been jailed for life for masterminding a botched gangland shooting as he watched Manchester United in an executive box at Old Trafford.

Bobby Speirs, 41, was told he will spend at least 23 years behind bars when he was sentenced by a judge at Manchester Crown Court.

Speirs used his mobile phone to organise the hit at Salford's Brass Handles pub as he watched Manchester United play Newcastle in an executive box a couple of miles away at Old Trafford in 2006.

The box was hired by security firm PMS, of which Speirs was a director, and the father-of-two believed he had the perfect alibi when he co-ordinated the shooting during half-time.

While Speirs sat in his executive box, his two hired hit men burst into the Brass Handles pub and opened fire at their target, David Totton, who was drinking with friends.

They shot 27-year-old Totton in the face and chest and also shot another man but both were only wounded. The gunmen were then overpowered in the pub and shot dead with their own guns.


guilty on compelling evidence of conspiracy to murder
Judge Williams


Speirs fled to Spain after the failed assassination bid but was tracked down by police and brought to justice after detectives used mobile phone records to prove he was linked to the shootings.

Judge Griffith Williams told Speirs: "You have been found guilty on compelling evidence of conspiracy to murder."

He added: "You were part of a calculated and carefully planned assassination. You were prepared for the killing to be done in a crowded public house causing real terror. Although the shooting was targeted, there was a very serious risk others may have been injured."

Speirs showed no reaction as he was sentenced and led down by the dock officers. Family and friends shouted: "Keep your chin up, Bobby."

Respect

Police believe Speirs wanted David Totton killed because of a 'respect' row between the pair which started when the security firm boss snubbed his younger rival at the door of a Manchester nightclub.

Totton started drinking at the Brass Handles pub - which was Speirs' local - and Speirs feared Totton was plotting revenge.

He decided to take pre-emptive action and arranged a £10,000 'hit' to kill Totton.

Speirs enlisted the help of the Mr Big of Manchester's Doddington gang, Ian McLeod, and convicted gun-runner Constance Howarth to organise the assassination.

McLeod recruited the two hitmen Richard Austin, 19, and Carlton Alveranga, 20, while Howarth acted as a 'spotter' in the pub to guide the gunmen to their target.

Both McLeod and Howarth were jailed for life at a previous court hearing for their parts in the murder plot.

Speirs fled to Spain and remained on the run for two years until Greater Manchester Police, acting on a tip-off, tracked him down in Benidorm, where he had been living with a former Salford publican. Speirs was arrested in a Benidorm bar and extradited to the UK.

He was found guilty of conspiracy to murder on Wednesday following a three week trial at Manchester Crown Court.

Expertise

After the hearing, Andy Tattersall, the officer leading the case, said: "I'm really pleased with the sentence. It sends a strong message to the criminals of the city of Manchester that the police have the skill, expertise and the determination to fight serious crime. Bobby Speirs was clearly involved in gangland crime.

"This investigation started with two mobile phones and two dead bodies and a car registration. That's all we had. Telephone evidence was key but it isn't just as easy as that. We have to put it all together and analyse it.

"It's hours and hours and days and days and months and months of dedicated hard work."

Mr Tattersall said the investigation into the murders of Austin and Alveranga continued, and he added: "The inquiry is still on-going and we still want to speak to a man called Marcus Rio Callaghan. I would urge him to speak to his solicitor and speak to the police."

John Lord, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Today's conviction is testament to the work and commitment of both Greater Manchester Police and the CPS, as a prosecution team, managed to secure the extradition of Speirs and put this case before the courts.

"Enormous credit must go to the police for the manner in which they conducted this complex and detailed investigation.

"We hope that this verdict sends out a clear message to those criminals who think they can evade justice by simply fleeing abroad: we can - and we will - find you and hold you to account."

From the M.E.N archives

 Gangster gets life for pub shooting

Protection offered in Brass Handles case

Life for Brass Handles pair

Bloodbath in a family pub