FOUR people have been jailed for a total of 95 years after a drug-related shooting in which a Southampton man almost died.

Jay Sibley suffered serious head injuries in the attack, which occurred outside his former home in February last year and put him in hospital for three months.

Yesterday at Winchester Crown Court Ricardo Livingston-Wright, 32, of Selsfield Drive, Brighton, was sentenced to 30 years for attempted murder

Jordan Anthony Perry, 27, of Acacia Road, Mitcham, Surrey, was jailed for 30 years for attempted murder.

Jordan Ray Smith, 22, of Lysander Gardens, Surbiton, was sentenced to 31 years for attempted murder.

Sara Hodgkinson, 32, of Magpie Walk, Waterlooville, was jailed for four years for encouraging/assisting in the commission of an indictable-only offence.

Speaking after the hearing Detective Chief Inspector Dave Brown said: “This case highlights the damage that drug-related harm causes in our communities and to individuals involved in drugs.

“This incident was a particularly traumatic experience for Jay Sibley, whom we now know was a drug user and involved in the supply of controlled drugs at the time.

"Today justice has been served and I hope Jay can put this incident behind him and move on with this life.

“I also hope that the sentences received will serve as a warning to those involved in drug dealing, and the associated drug-related harm, that we will not tolerate this in our communities."

Mr Sibley was 34 at the time of the near-fatal shooting at Athena Avenue, Waterlooville.

Earlier this year he admitted stealing alcohol from the John Lewis store in Southampton, saying his benefits stopped while he was recovering in hospital.

Following the shooting he was in a coma for three weeks and medically died three times, Southampton magistrates were told.

Gary Leonard, mitigating, said: “He was left with partial sight loss to his left eye, brain damage, problems with his circulation and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“He was in a coma for three weeks and spent the next three months in hospital.”

The court heard that while he was in hospital his benefits were stopped. They were later reinstated but the money went into his account and automatically paid off an overdraft - leaving him without any cash.

Mr Leonard added: “He was in a desperate state. He and his partner were totally destitute.”