Letters saying case closed over BMW drive-by shootings sent in error

Two drivers were sent police letters saying the case was closed less than a week after cars and businesses were shot at across Worcester last Monday.

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West Mercia Police confirmed at least seven victims were identified including motorists on the M5 and A449 and two businesses - Listers SEAT in Ombersley Road and Bygones in Deansway.

A car with a toddler in the back seat was one of those damaged in the attacks.

Listers Seat was shot twice - the second shot hitting the tempered glass 10 to 15 minutes after the first. 

ANGER: Faust Mazzocchi

However, letters have been sent out by West Mercia, telling victims police would take no further action.

In a letter, written to him on June 30, a spokesman for West Mercia wrote: "As a result of the information that we have been provided with and having reviewed the circumstances of this crime there are no further enquiries we can make and this investigation has been closed. 

"If any new evidence becomes available about your crime this decision may be reconsidered."

HOLE: A close up of the damage

However, yesterday (Monday) a spokesman for West Mercia Police said the letters were sent out in error and it was still a live investigation.

Faust Mazzocchi was driving his taxi on Whittington Road as he approached junction 7 of the M5 when the rear windscreen of his Mercedes Vito was shot.

The 61-year-old former owner of the Galleria Italiana in the city's Friar Street was around 30 to 40 metres away from the roundabout, bound for Birmingham Airport, when he heard an 'almighty bang'.

LETTER: The letter received from West Mercia Police by Fausto Mazzocchi

The letter also says the offence was being investigated as criminal damage to a vehicle (under £5,000).

However, Mr Mazzocchi said: "When someone points a gun at you that can pierce a windscreen and actually fires it means they don’t care if it hits you and causes injury then that is attempted murder and they did it quite a few times that day and could have left a trail of injuries."

He also said he had dash cam footage of the incident which had still not been collected by police.

Mr Mazzocchi said he waited 45 minutes in a lay-by near junction 6 after pulling off the motorway following the attack and dialling 999.

He says nobody from West Mercia Police arrived and, in the end, he could not wait any longer and had to leave to continue his work.

"I feel anger and disgust. Thank God I didn't have any passengers in the back seat," he said.

Mr Mazzocchi mentioned that five police cars had attended an address in Worcester on Saturday after unrelated reports of a knife.

"But somebody fires a gun at you and nobody turns up," he said.

The driver of a Land Rover Discovery, who declined to be named, had his back window shot as he drove towards Claines on the A449, pulling over near Hawford Lodge.

He said he was initially concerned when he received the letter saying the case had been closed but was 'pleased' it was still a live investigation.

"It's too early - after four or five days - to close the case. It seems ridiculous. It's serious when somebody goes around shooting and we could have had a bullet in our backs. The Wild West sums it up."

West Mercia Police, which launched an appeal for witnesses, confirmed 'a number of reports of criminal damage on roads around Worcester' between 4.30pm and 5pm.

Police confirmed that the incidents are being linked and it’s thought those responsible for the damage were in a white BMW 3 series.

A spokesman for West Mercia Police said: "The investigation is still live and we are going to be contacting all the victims over the next couple of days. Some had had letters which they should not have done. It has been an administrative error."

The officer investigating the case is PC Michael Poultney who can be contacted via 101.