Police bring charges over drive-by shootings and arson attacks (From St Helens Star)

Police bring charges over drive-by shootings and arson attacks in Derbyshire Hill and Sutton

9:16am Thursday 28th February 2013 in News

DETECTIVES have brought a series of charges against a number of men as part of an investigation into drive-by shootings and arson attacks in St Helens communities.

A police inquiry into flashpoints in Derbyshire Hill – in which gunshots were fired at a house and vehicles were torched in Sutton - has been running for more than a year.

Neighbours had been alarmed over the spate of violence between July 2011 and March 2012.

Police brought charges yesterday after a number of men they had previously arrested answered bail.

Charges of conspiracy to supply class A drugs, conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life - or enable another to do so - and conspiracy to commit arson have been brought against four men.

They are: Eugene Price, 31, of Sherdley Road; Christopher Lunt, 26, of Sandy Lane, Wigan; David John Doolan, 27, and Alan Doolan, 22, both of Gray Street, Bootle.

All four have been granted bail – on condition they do not visit St Helens – to appear before court in a fortnight.

Meanwhile, a further three St Helens people have been charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

They are: Stephen Finney, 20, of Lambourne Gardens; Deborah Jane Ballard, 43, of Cleveland Street; and Christopher Kendal, 28, of Boardmans Lane.

A police operation was continuing as the Star went to press yesterday and there was the potential charges could be brought against other people.