The final suspect in a mistaken-identity shooting has been found not guilty following a retrial.

A trial at Hove Crown Court last year heard that a group of men mistakenly went to the wrong flat in Elmore Road, Brighton, on January 27, 2015, and fired a single shot through the front door after trying to force their way in.

This hit the 40-year-old-victim leaving him with serious but not life-threatening injuries. He was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton. Armed officers were sent to the scene but the suspects had fled.

Adam Willis, 34, of no fixed address, was charged with attempting to murder a 40-year-old man and conspiracy to murder a 25-year-old man at the time. The jury returned a guilty verdict on December 10 and Willis was sentenced on January 7 this year to life imprisonment with a recommendation that he will serve a minimum of 17-and-a-half years.

After nearly six days of deliberation, the jury was hung and could not reach a verdict on Spencer Bowen, 25, who faced the same charges as well as being charged with committing grievous bodily harm.

Bowen, of Heathfield Avenue, Dover, Kent, was remanded in custody until his retrial this year. A jury at Croydon Crown Court found him not guilty of the three charges last Monday (July 25).

Hayden Pendleton, 30, of Damwood Road, Liverpool, was found not guilty of attempted murder and conspiracy to murder by the jury on December 10.

The case against Lewis Carney, 28, of London Road, Dover, Kent, who was charged with conspiracy to murder was dropped at the start of the trial last year.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Rymarz, of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, who led the investigation said: "A group armed with a loaded shotgun were seeking to target a man who was not at the property.

"An innocent man was instead subjected to a shocking and frightening unprovoked attack at his home.

"This was a lengthy and complex investigation with officers supporting the victim and also the man who we believed to be the intended target.

"I would like to pay particular tribute to the victim of the attack, who showed significant bravery, along with the investigation team who have worked so tirelessly on the case since January last year.

"We respect the decision of the jury but we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the shooting."

RESIDENTS LEFT TERRIFIED

The victim had his finger shot off and shotgun pellets removed from his stomach after he was attacked.

In what was described as a "targeted attack" by police, three men arrived at the flat in Elmore Road, Brighton, just after 11pm, calling out the name of a man who previously lived there.

The current 39-year-old tenant was then shot with a single blast from a shotgun through the letterbox.

Samantha Keywood, who lives in Elmore Road, opposite the block of flats, said she heard the gunshot.

She said: “I heard a bang at around 11pm. I didn’t see anyone and we stayed shut up inside because we’ve got kids in the house. The police were here within a few minutes.”

It is believed the attackers were targeting a 23-year-old man who left the flat a few weeks ago and The Argus understands he had been subjected to several previous attacks.

Residents in Elmore Road said they had been left terrified by the shooting.

Andy Winter, of Brighton Housing Trust, which owns the block, said: “Our tenant has been the victim of a case of mistaken identity.

“People came to the door calling a name. They were outside and he was saying ‘it’s not me’. Then they shot him. He has lost his baby finger and he is having pellets removed from his belly.

“It is really, really upsetting. Obviously we are incredibly upset that one of our tenants has been hurt. This is not a problem block and we are not aware of any other incidents at the property.”

The Argus understands the intended victim had been targeted on at least four previous occasions, including other incidents involving guns.

A neighbour at the flats said: “I am terrified. I can’t even tell my family or they won’t want me living here any more. It is the third time there has been a shooting. I’m scared to go out.”