Customer Shot Up Garage During Jaguar Row

A gunman shot up cars in a garage he was in dispute with after wanting two Jaguars repaired and getting into a cash row with the mechanic.

Darius Lapinski, 26, forced the mechanic to flee for his life when he was struck with a baton and hid from shots fired in the garage.

Lapinsky, of Kingsway, Enfield received 14 years imprisonment after he was convicted of possession of a firearm, with intent to endanger life.

Harrow Crown Court heard the 28 year-old victim was confronted by a masked Lapinsky on June 13, last year at the premises in Hertford Road, Lower Edmonton.

He had an accomplice, also masked, and the pair were armed with a firearm.

The mechanic recognised the voice of Lapinski, a customer he had a disagreement with over the phone earlier that day regarding payments.

As he attempted to run away, the victim was struck with a baton before finding shelter behind a parked car.

Lapinski then proceeded to fire shots in the garage causing damage to a number of vehicles.

The two suspects then walked off down Hertford Road, smashing the window of another vehicle in the garage with a baton as they did so.

A police investigation commenced, led by the Met’s Trident Reactive Team.

Enquiries carried out by the team established that the victim and Lapinski were known to each other.

Approximately a month before the attack, Lapinski brought two Jaguar vehicles to the garage – one blue, one silver - and made an arrangement for the silver Jaguar to be fixed with parts from the blue Jaguar.

A price of £750 was agreed, but after the work was finished, Lapinski collected the silver car and only paid £200.

He also failed to collect the blue car.

The victim contacted Lapinski and asked for the remaining funds to be paid. After a delay, this was done.

However, on the day of the incident, at approximately 1.00pm, Lapinski called the garage demanding the blue Jaguar to be fixed free of charge.

When the victim explained this could not be done, Lapinski attended the garage with an accomplice armed with the gun.
Detective Sergeant Mark Attridge, who led the investigation, said: “This violent incident targeted an innocent man who was simply doing his job.

“Thankfully the victim did not suffer serious injuries, but Lapinski’s reckless actions could have easily caused a huge amount of harm.

“I hope the sentencing shows how seriously this type of brazen violence is taken and the Metropolitan Police's Trident commands commitment to tackling dangerous individuals who chose to arm themselves with a firearm and threaten the communities of London.

“This behaviour will not be tolerated and robust police action will be taken against them.”