News / Crime
Prison for Bristol rapper in Easton shooting
A Bristol rapper known as Yogi Bear has been jailed for shooting a man in the buttocks with a double barrelled shotgun.
Kayode Stephens, 33, left Mark Reid, 40, with life-changing injuries after shooting more than 60 metal pellets into his right thigh, buttock and pelvis outside the Jolly Roger pub on All Hallows Road, Easton, on May 23 this year.
Stephens was sentenced to 12 years in prison at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm and possession of a loaded weapon.
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After shooting Reid twice in the early hours of the morning, Stephens fled the scene in a Volkswagen Polo but was stopped by police after a short pursuit on the M32.
Following his conviction, detective inspector Jonathon Deane said: “Kayode Stephens left his victim for dead following this brutal and cowardly attack and he is very lucky to be alive.
“But while his victim survived twice being shot with a double barrelled shotgun, his sciatic nerve in his right leg was partially severed and this will affect his ability to walk for the rest of his life.
“Thankfully shootings like this are extremely rare in Bristol and I’d like to reassure the community that they can feel confident the city remains a safe place to live.
“When they do happen we are committed to catching those responsible and bringing them to justice as quickly as possible.
“In this instance, our officers managed to track down and apprehend Stephens in a matter of hours and after a full and thorough investigation ensured he was taken off our streets for a very long time.”
Stephens has appeared in a number of music videos filmed in Bristol and made under the name Bear Productions.
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