A WHITEFIELD man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a man who was caught up in a bitter feud with his friend.

Remi Adams, aged 34, of Dartmouth Road, pulled the trigger and shot Kieran McGrath two years ago as his sat in his car in a pub car park.

He was found guilty of murder on Wednesday, November 16, at Manchester Crown Court, in Crown Square, following a re-trial and sentenced to life with a minimum of 30 years on Thursday, November 17, been sentenced to life with a minimum of 30 years.

Adams is the final member of the gang who orchestrated Mr McGrath’s murder to be jailed.

Detective Chief Inspector Terry Crompton said: “Today, the last piece of the puzzle is complete and the final man has been sentenced for the murder of Kieran.

“Five people who were all in some way responsible for Kieran’s death are now behind bars where they belong.

“I know this will never make up for the loss Kieran’s family and friends have had to endure but I hope it goes some way to providing them with closure.

“I would like to thank Kieran’s family for their patience and support throughout this case as well as the dedication and commitment of our officers.”

Over the course of both trials the court heard the victim and Anthony Henry had engaged in a bitter feud lasting more than two years and which was marked throughout by threats and violence.

The feud came to a head with the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Mr McGrath on October 4 2014 after Henry had conspired with associate Troy Beckford to murder him.

Another man, Jace Smith, was the rider of a motorbike and Adams was the pillion passenger gunman who pulled up and fired at Mr McGrath.

Insp Crompton said: “Anthony Henry is a man who had a simmering need for revenge but wasn’t brave enough to act himself.

"He saw the feud between himself and Kieran as damaging to both his pride and reputation, but when Kieran attempted on several occasions to sort it out, Henry either fled or refused to show.

"Henry was adamant that he wanted to end Kieran’s life, but he was not willing to carry out the attack himself and instead looked to distance himself by use of the trackers and the inclusion of others into the plot.

"As a result, this was an investigation of incredible complexity due to the sheer volume of telephone and tracking data that our officers had to sift through to achieve this successful conviction.

"In fact, I quite early on dubbed this the ‘digital investigation’, due to just how instrumental the data footprint left by Henry and his co-conspirators was in building the case against them.

"The successful conviction of this gang is a testament to the hard work, dedication and ingenuity of our detectives, who have worked tirelessly to ensure that the McGrath family got justice for the murder of their son and brother."

Manchester Crown Court heard how in April 2014 a man walked into a surveillance shop in Stockport and bought four covert tracking devices which would eventually be used in the murder.

One was placed onto McGrath’s car so Henry and his co-conspirators could trace his movements but these were removed after a mechanic spotted them during an inspection.

During the case, the victim's mother Marie told the court that she had overheard a phone conversation between her son and Henry in the middle of September 2014 in which her son said: "What are you putting a tracker on my car for? You’ve got my phone number, just call me and I’ll tell you where I am and we’ll have it out."

However, another tracker was installed on an Audi S3 by Beckford in the early hours of September 23 2014, following the purchase of two phones by Henry and Beckford which were used to plan the murder.

Henry used his iPad to check the location and the travel history of the new tracking device on a daily basis and it was would lead Smith and Adams to the Sheldon Arms pub in Ashton-under-Lyne on the night Mr McGrath died.

The day before the shooting the plotters carried out a practice run which involved two men on a red motorcycle driving past Mr McGrath's close friend’s house a total of six times.

Throughout the day Henry, Smith, Beckford and Adams were in constant communication and Mr McGrath’s movements were being closely monitored.

On the day of the murder, Beckford purchased two mobile telephones which would be used exclusively for the relaying of the victim's location between Beckford, Henry, Adams and Smith.

That evening Mr McGrath met friends at the Sheldon Arms pub at around 9pm.

At 9.53pm Smith and Adams drove the motorcycle into the car park of the Travelodge which is next to the Sheldon Arms and parked in a bay, with the pillion passenger getting off the bike and approaching the back wall of the Sheldon Arms.

Ten minutes later, they drove round to the Sheldon Arms car park, placing themselves in position to strike when Mr McGrath left the pub.

At 10.20pm Mr McGrath and a friend left the Sheldon Arms and were walking across the car park when the motorcycle stopped nearby and the passenger ran over and opened fire at Mr McGrath and his car.

By this time, Mr McGrath was in the driver’s seat and one of the four shots travelled through the rear door of the vehicle and entered the top of his back.

He drove immediately to Ashton Police Station where he collapsed as a result of his injuries. He was found by two off-duty officers who called paramedics who battled unsuccessfully to save his life.

Meanwhile the gang had met at an address in Blackley where they were unaware that Mr McGrath had suffered a fatal injury.

During a phone call to a taxi company, Adams is recorded saying: “Yo Ant, listen, we’ll get him man". It was a conversation which was a key piece of prosecution evidence.

When Henry and his gang were looking to hide from the police, Henry’s girlfriend Bretony Gallimore booked a hotel room in Ramsbottom specifically for the pair to hide out.

Henry, aged 32, of Kenwyn Street, Miles Platting, was jailed for life with a minimum of 33 years after being convicted of murder.

Beckford, aged 24, of Lowerfields Gardens, Golborne, was jailed for life with a minimum of 31 years after being convicted of murder.

Smith, aged 31, of Charlestown Road, Blackley, was jailed for life with a minimum of 30 years after being convicted of murder.

Bretony Gallimore, aged 25, of Stanhorne Avenue, Crumpsall, was jailed for three years after being convicted of assisting an offender.