A JURY has begun considering whether two defendants were involved in a conspiracy to carry out a shooting before framing another man for it.

During a two week trial at Bolton Crown Court, jurors told how alleged crime boss Leon Cullen - who was formerly Warrington's most wanted man before being arrested in Dubai last year - had a grudge against his former partner's ex-boyfriend Craig Millington.

After shots were fired at the windows and door of a house on Hilden Street in Bolton in September 2019, his associates planted the Luger pistol used during the incident - as well as a quantity of cocaine - in Millington's car before tipping off police.

Several men have already admitting their parts in the crimes.

But 36-year-old Andrew Potter, of Thelwall New Road in Thelwall, and 35-year-old Stuart Shaw, of McKee Avenue in Longford, deny possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and perverting the course of public justice.

Both men deny knowing about the shooting or the gun being planted.

After an hour of deliberation yesterday afternoon, the honorary recorder of Bolton judge Martin Walsh sent the jury home for the evening.

They will resume the consideration of their verdicts today, Wednesday.

Cullen was detained by police in the United Arab Emirates on January 3 2020 on an international arrest warrant, but is still awaiting extradition to the UK more than a year on.

He is suspected of being the head of a major cocaine ring operating in the town, members of which were jailed for 185 years in 2019 – including Leon’s twin brother Anthony Cullen, who was given 27 years behind bars.