MEN accused of involvement in a plot to shoot at a house in Hilden Street, Bolton and frame a gang rival for it have been cleared by a jury.

Following two days of deliberation a jury at Bolton Crown Court found Andrew Potter, aged 36, of Thelwall Road, Grappenhall, Warrington, and Stuart Shaw, aged 35, of McKee Avenue, Warrington, not guilty of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice.

The court had heard how Warrington crime boss Leon Cullen, currently in custody in Dubai, had a grudge against his former partner's ex-boyfriend Craig Millington.

And after shots were fired at the windows and door of a house in Hilden Street, Bolton, on September 9, 2019, his associates planted the Luger pistol and cocaine in Millington's car and tipped off police.

Several men have already pleaded guilty to taking part in the crimes but Potter and Shaw denied involvement with the conspiracy.

Their co-accused will be sentenced at a later date. They are: Andrew Johannesson, aged 38, of Gaskell Street, St Helens and Lewis Sinclair, aged 38, of Hazel Walk, Partington for conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent cause fear of violence and conspiracy to commit burglary; Shawn O'Malley, aged 33, of no fixed address, for conspiracy to possess a firearm and perverting the course of justice; Lee Steadman, aged 37, of Spark Road, Manchester for aggravated vehicle taking, driving whilst banned and conspiracy to commit burglary; O'Malley's girlfriend, Annie Webster, aged 25, of Cumberland Street, Warrington, for handling criminal property.