Brothers jailed for more than 40-years after man shot in Greenhithe

Two brothers have been jailed for a total of more than 40-years after a person standing near their motorbikes in Greenhithe was shot.

The incident on Sunday 8 March 2020 took place in a communal car park in Cooper Close.

During the evening, a group of people attempted to steal some motorcycles before fleeing empty handed when they were disturbed by a resident.

When two of them returned to the scene, the bikes’ owners, Christopher and Colin Nourse, were waiting.

The brothers had armed themselves with firearms and Christopher Nourse shot at the pair who ran from the close. The brothers then left in separate vehicles and travelled to his home in London.

Kent Police received reports from residents who had heard the sound of gunshots and patrols went to Cooper Close.

Officers were also alerted when a man with bullet injuries to his arm arrived at Darent Valley Hospital.

An investigation was commenced and officers recovered six 9mm calibre and nine 0.4 inch calibre ammunition casings at the scene. Two vehicles in the car park had also been damaged by the shots and, when the brothers returned while officers were still completing their enquiries, they were arrested.

A search of Christopher Nourse’s address in Penge and Colin Nourse’s house in Greenhithe, led to the seizure of firearms accessories.

In addition, a spent 0.4 inch calibre cartridge, a lock knife and Taser were recovered from the two cars the brothers had used after the incident. Forensic examination of the vehicles located gunshot residue and a spent ammunition casing which had traces of Colin Nourse’s DNA. Detectives later recovered a handgun used in the shooting that had been discarded under a car in Penge.

CCTV footage at Cooper Close was examined by detectives that showed the brothers leaving Colin Nourse’s address immediately before the shots were fired. The brothers were also forensically connected to bullet casings recovered at the scene.

On 12 March, the Crown Prosecution Service authorised a charge of attempted murder for both men. They pleaded not guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and on Thursday 28 July 2022, Christopher Nourse was convicted of attempted murder and possession of a prohibited weapon (namely a 9mm handgun). Colin Nourse was found not guilty of attempted murder but guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

On Wednesday 20 December 2023, Christopher Nourse, aged 45, was jailed for a total of 30 years’ imprisonment and 42-year-old Colin Nourse was jailed for 14 years. Both men will have to serve two thirds of their jail terms before they are eligible for parole, after which they will be required to complete a further four years on licence.

Detective Superintendent Gavin Moss, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said:

‘These two men decided to arm themselves with firearms after somebody sought to steal their motorcycles. This was extremely reckless and, when one of them discharged his weapon in a residential area, it is only by chance that a member of the public unconnected with the incident did not suffer a fatal injury.

‘It is apparent that Colin and Christopher Nourse are dangerous individuals who will not think twice at using violence and Greenhithe is a safer place now they are safely behind bars.’