A GUN crime victim whose shooting was part of the Colin Gunn corruption case is being sentenced today for his role in a £1m fraud.

Lawrence Aitken was shot in the ankle as he left Aspley Pawnbrokers on December 18, 2004.

He needed seven-and-a-half hours of surgery and two blood transfusions to save the lower half of his right leg.

The trial of corrupt Notts PC Charles Fletcher was told that former Bestwood crime boss Gunn had allegedly been involved in the incident, but Aitken had refused to say who shot him.

Today Aitken is being sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court with his father and ten others for their various roles in the £1m fraud.

Aitken, who has recovered from the 2004 attack and walks with a stick, was mentioned during proceedings at Birmingham Crown Court in 2006.

The court heard that PC Fletcher, who worked at Radford Road CID, provided information to a middle-man, Jason Grocock, about intelligence on Aitken's shooting.

Grocock was working for Bestwood gang boss Colin Gunn and other associates, who through him used Fletcher to get snippets of top secret police intelligence.

Paul Taylor, prosecuting, had told the court in Birmingham: "Mr Aitken knew who had shot him and was keeping his mouth shut, which was of vital importance to those seeking it, because if Mr Aitken said he knew who had done it and was going to tell the police, steps undoubtedly would have been taken to deter such a person assisting police."

Mr Taylor said the people involved were alleged to be Gunn and associate James Neil, but descriptions ruled them out.

Fletcher divulged to Grocock that three people had been arrested.

Grocock said his "other mate" – which the prosecution said was a reference to Gunn – could not understand why he was not on the list at all or what the plan was.

Fletcher told him his "other mate's" name had been mentioned as one of the people who could have been involved.

Fletcher further revealed: "We have someone balaclavaed up, we have no forensic, he's [Mr Aitken's] not playing...he knows who shot him."

Lawrence Aitken 38, is today being sentenced with his father, pawnbroker Reginald Aitken, 65, , and Azhar Hussain, 47, of Fulwood Crescent, Aspley.

They were found guilty following a trial earlier this year of conspiring to possess or acquire criminal property.

The investigation took place between Nottinghamshire and West Yorkshire Police after more than £1m was fraudulently stolen from a number of banks.

David Legore, 49, of Whitemoss Close, Wollaton, and Mohammed Ikram, 22, of Tile Street, Bradford, had earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess or acquire criminal property.

John Phipps, 64, of Westwood Rise, Ilkley, was found guilty of conspiracy to steal and Francis Alfred, 26,was found guilty of conspiracy to possess or acquire criminal property.

Ansir Khan, 22, of Jesmond Avenue, Bradford, Mohammed Hamraaz, 25, of Killinghall Road, Bradford, Michael Finch, 64, of Plaistow Lane, Bromley, Madeline Finch, 59, of Plaistow Lane, Bromley, and Sam Shaw, 23, of Fulwood Crescent, Nottingham, all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal.

All charges are in connection with the theft of cash from accounts between April 2005 and May 2006.

Colin Gunn, 40, of Revelstoke Way, Rise Park, was later jailed for nine years for conspiracy to corrupt the officer, which he had denied. He was already serving a minimum of 35 years for conspiracy to murder John and Joan Stirland in Trusthorpe, Lincolnshire, on August 8, 2004.

Jason Grocock received four-and-half years and Fletcher seven years for conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office.

James Neil, 40, formerly of Bakersfield, admitted conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice last year. He is serving three years.

rebecca.sherdley@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk