A MAN was showered with 100 pellets, leaving him with multiple injuries to the back of his head, after he was shot in a long-running feud over a six-year-old child, a court heard.

Preston Crown Court was told Mark Walsh survived the shooting on January 12 but has been left with long-term hearing loss after being fired at from a range of between 5m and 15m in an alley behind his home in Maudsley Street, Accrington.

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Three men, including the child’s biological father, are standing trial for conspiracy to murder. Two of the defendants also face attempted-murder charges.

Opening the trial, Michael Shorrock QC, prosecuting, told the court there was a history of bad blood between Kevin King, 30, of Lodge Lane, Lytham, and Mr Walsh, 35, after King’s ex-partner and child moved in with Mr Walsh in 2012.

Prosecutors said King resented Mr Walsh living in the same house as his ex-partner and child.

After making telephone threats to “shoot them both” in 2012, King was made the subject of a two-year restraining order.

But it is alleged that on January 12, King arranged for his best friend Donovan Wallace, 26, of Lodge Lane, Lytham St Annes, and Jack Wilding, 20, of no fixed address, to carry out the threat.

The court heard that shortly before 9pm, Mr Walsh heard a banging noise on his back gate which set his dogs off barking. He went to investigate but was confronted by a man wearing a ski mask and carrying a gun.

As Mr Walsh turned to flee, the gunman opened fire. Mr Walsh was showered with pellets, causing him to fall to the ground.

The next thing he recalled was waking up in Royal Preston Hospital.

Shotgun residue was found on a red hoodie belonging to Wilding.

And gloves with Wallace’s DNA on them were found in the cab of Wallace’s lorry during the course of the investigation.

During police inquiries which led to the arrests of King, Wallace and Wilding, covert recordings were taken from King’s lorry.

In a conversation with another man, he is heard to say: “I said I’d do it, didn’t I?

“Well next time, you know what I mean mate, it will be me pulling that trigger and it will be a double barrel, not a single.”

The court heard King resented Mr Walsh having care of his child and allegedly said in covet recording: “I will guarantee that ******* won’t see her.”

The prosecution alleges King planned the shooting and made sure he was away from the scene at the time Wilding and Wallace carried out the attack in Accrington.

All three men are charged with conspiracy to murder. Wallace and Wilding are charged with attempted murder. They deny all the charges.

The case continues.