A 22-year-old man is set to be sentenced after admitting to charges connected to a series of violent episodes involving gunfire on a Doncaster estate. Stephen Whitaker, a resident of Chalmers Drive, appeared before Sheffield Crown Court on August 7, where he pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, along with two counts of driving while disqualified.
The charges stem from a wave of criminal activity that gripped the Clay Lane estate in late June and early July. South Yorkshire Police responded to multiple incidents during this period, including reports of shots fired at properties and vehicles.
A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police detailed one of the critical incidents: “On Sunday, June 23, we received reports that a man was allegedly in possession of an imitation firearm.” Whitaker was subsequently charged and has remained in custody since his arrest. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 12.
Timeline of Violence on Clay Lane Estate
– June 24: Shots were fired outside a house on Chalmers Drive when four men, one armed with a shotgun, exited a vehicle and targeted the property, even hurling a bottle at it.
– June 26: A gang of five men broke into a house on nearby Wilberforce Road, causing extensive damage. That same night, shots were reportedly fired at a vehicle. Police recovered a white Audi and a black Volkswagen from the scene, with evidence suggesting shots were fired from one of the vehicles.
– June 28: A 24-year-old woman was arrested for assisting offenders during a police operation on Clay Lane. She was later released on bail pending further investigation.
– June 29: Armed officers returned to Wilberforce Road to seize a car believed to be linked to criminal activities.
– July 3: Chalmers Drive was cordoned off by police at around 5:30 p.m., and two firearms were seized from a property.
– July 5: Armed police were once again called to Shackleton Road and Wilberforce Road.
– July 7: Stephen Whitaker was arrested on firearms charges.
This recent crime spree is part of a troubling pattern of violence on the estate. In June 2021, the area was the site of a shooting and a violent confrontation involving multiple vehicles. Just months later, in February 2022, 45-year-old Daniel Nica was sentenced to three years in prison for firing an airgun at a man’s face during an altercation on Chalmers Drive. The victim sustained injuries that required hospital treatment.
The area has also seen drug-related activity. In December 2022, police arrested an 18-year-old and a 42-year-old woman on drug charges following a raid in Chalmers Drive. Officers seized Class A drugs, scales, bags, cash, and a knuckle duster during the operation.
As the community grapples with this latest surge in violence, all eyes are now on Whitaker’s upcoming sentencing, which many hope will bring some closure to a neighbourhood shaken by crime.
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