A man was ambushed and shot with a 19th century pistol inside a park in broad daylight during a row over money.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, tried fleeing the gunman but took a bullet behind his knee-cap in Westmeads Recreation Ground, Whitstable.

As shooter Andrew Williams fled with alleged accomplices the victim told his girlfriend, “I have just been shot”, before being rushed to hospital.

Williams, 53, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and wounding with intent earlier this year.

His nephew Barry Chambers, 23, and a 16-year-old boy who cannot be named, deny conspiring to cause wounding with intent.

A jury at Canterbury Crown Court heard tensions flared between Chambers and the victim in a row over a sold car.

It erupted when the victim and his girlfriend witnessed a white transit van, being driven by Chambers, careening towards them with music blaring.

The pair told the jury the trio jumped out of the vehicle and became threatening, forcing them to flee.

After retreating to Westmeads Recreation Ground, Chambers, of Walmer Road, Whitstable, and the 16-year-old tracked them down and became hostile.

They explained Williams emerged from behind the pair, reaching into his pocket, barking at the victim to stand still.

The man explained how he turned to run and witnessed a flash of smoke come from Williams’ hand.

“I could feel a sharp pain and I was unable to walk properly - my vision was going blurry,” he told the jury.

'He was holding his leg saying I have just been shot' - victim's girlfriend

His girlfriend added: “I heard a shot that sounded really loud. I heard my boyfriend screaming.

“He was holding his leg saying I have just been shot.”

Armed police, paramedics and an air ambulance were scrambled to the scene at about 2pm on July 7.

Officers initially believed he had been injured with a ball-bearing gun pellet.

The man was rushed to Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital, and, against medical advice, the boy discharged himself early.

'Barry had a score to settle and they went there with intent to shoot' - prosecutor Paul Valder

Surgery revealed his wound had been caused by a .22 bullet.

Meanwhile, Kent Police investigators scanned CCTV evidence for clues.

It revealed moments before the shooting the trio pulled up in a silver Ford Focus in Wheatley Road, opposite the park.

Footage played in court showed Williams exit the car carrying the handgun, and then the group walking down an alley, towards the recreation ground.

Arriving at the park they momentarily walk out of the camera’s view, however, they are seen soon sprinting back down the path and drive off at speed.

Williams, of no fixed abode, could be seen holding the firearm throughout the footage.

The weapon, a working late-19th century pistol largely used for target practice, was discovered hidden in a hedge in Herne Bay after Williams disclosed its location to police. A live bullet was still in the chamber.

Prosecutor Paul Valder told the jury the: “Barry had a score to settle and they went there with intent to shoot (the victim) and cause him grievous bodily harm.”

The defendants’ case is yet to be heard.

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