A gunman who carried out the drive by shooting of a father-of-one in Stonebridge has been jailed for life for murder.

Shaun Brown, 31, was originally jailed for attempted murder for shooting Garvey Thomas, 21.

But when Mr Thomas died in 2010, Brown was charged with murder and was found guilty on Wednesday after a trial at the Old Bailey.

The court had heard that the victim was left paralysed from the neck downwards after he was shot at close range outside the Livingstone Hostel in Melville Road, on June 16, 2006.

The bullet entered his neck, severing his spinal cord and despite emergency surgery, he was left paralysed.

The victim was able to identify Brown as the gunman from his hospital bed.

Brown, who has already served almost 11 years of a previous life sentence, was sentenced yesterday to life imprisonment and ordered to serve a minimum of another 15 years in prison.

Detective Sergeant Jason Grafham, of the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “As a result of a brutal and calculated shooting a young man was left paralysed and requiring constant care and nursing for the rest of his life.

“Finally the injuries he suffered that day proved fatal. This was a tragic case and the misery inflicted on the victim and his family is almost beyond comprehension.

“Brown was already in prison for the wicked act and he has now been further brought to justice for Mr Thomas’ murder.”