Pair sentenced for firearms offences in Oldham

Two men have been sentenced to 14 years and five months in prison following a shooting in Oldham in November 2024.

Yesterday (Tuesday), at Bolton Crown Court, Daniel Eastmond (aged 41), of Lime Green Road, Oldham, was sentenced to 14 year and five months for possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life after pleading guilty.

Anton Grant (37), of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 14 years and five months after being found guilty of possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent endanger life.

The court heard how on Friday, November 15, 2024, at around 9.50pm CCTV captured two males on a Surron bike on Crompton Street and three gun shots can be heard, which is believed to have been aimed at the two males on a Surron bike by Grant.

The Surron can be seen riding up Crompton Street and turns right onto Cunningham Way where one of the passengers dismounts and inspects the bike, to see if they had been hit by any of the discharged rounds.

Moments later, Eastmond got into the driver’s side of a Blue Audi RSQ3 and Grant gets into the front passenger side, with the latter appearing to put something in his left pocket.

After inspecting the Surron, the two passengers get back on the bike and head back towards Crompton Street.

Meanwhile, the Audi which is being driven by Eastmond heads in the direction of the Surron and as they meet, the car strays deliberately into the direction of the bike.

It is at this point that approximately 15-18 gun shots can be heard, as the two groups of men exchange rounds in the middle of the street.

From there, both groups disperse the area with the Surron continuing down Crompton Street and the Audi turned right onto Sunfield Road.

The Audi is driven back to Craven Street and CCTV footage show the windscreen of the vehicle with apparent bullet holes to the front windscreen.

The two suspects on the Surron bike have not been identified at this time.

Detective Inspector Rick Castley, from GMP's Serious Organised Crime Group, said: “This sentence sees two more dangerous criminals placed behind bars.

"The reckless exchange of gunfire between two groups on Crompton Street that Friday evening, could easily have resulted in tragic consequences for families and residents going about their everyday lives.

“We reviewed numerous hours of CCTV footage along with evidence we found at the scene, which included bullets found in damaged cars that were caught up in the crossfire that evening.

“The quality of the evidence against Eastmond and Grant was overwhelming, including the footage showing the latter of the two suspects, handling what appears to be a firearm immediately after the incident.

“Our work in Oldham and the rest of Greater Manchester in relation to firearms incidents has gone from strength to strength.

"Firearms have no place on our streets, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to target those involved in gun crime.

“I hope these convictions provide some reassurance to residents that we take such incidents extremely seriously and will pursue offenders relentlessly."

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