A Rotherham man has admitted possessing a shotgun with intent to endanger life after firing twice towards a Range Rover in a residential Kimberworth street in August 2025, an incident a judge described as a dangerous and wholly disproportionate response that "shattered the peace" of the neighbourhood.
What happened
Court reporting says Kyle Dearn, aged 38 and of Pitt Street, Rotherham, produced a shotgun and chased after a Land Rover 4x4 in Pitt Street, Kimberworth. CCTV shown at Sheffield Crown Court captured the vehicle reversing rapidly up the street before Dearn appeared and fired two shots.
- Scene: Pitt Street, Kimberworth, Rotherham
- Time reported: around 1.18pm (one report gives Tuesday, 12 August 2025)
- Defendant: Kyle Dearn, 38, of Pitt Street
- Charge admitted: possessing a shotgun with intent to endanger life
Evidence and motives
Prosecutors relied on CCTV footage played at court. The court heard Dearn said he acted in revenge after someone threw a brick through his mother's window. In interviews with prison doctors he referred to the victims as "the Albanians", and the reporting states the persons targeted were "almost certainly" members of a criminal gang. Neither the occupants of the Range Rover nor several males seen fleeing from the scene were identified, and it is not known whether the car sustained any damage as its owners did not come forward.
Judge's remarks and consequences
"It was a public street in the middle of the day... And the peace was shattered when you opened fire. I accept that you did not intend to kill - but you could have killed someone so easily by what you did."
The Recorder of Sheffield, His Honour Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, told the defendant he was a danger to the public. The court record notes Dearn expressed deep remorse for the effect of his actions on his family, who have since moved home because of fear of retaliation.
Background and prior offending
The reporting records previous convictions for a firearms offence some 25 years earlier and a history of drug-related crime. The shooting was described in court as carried out in broad daylight with children present in many nearby homes and members of the public going about ordinary daily activities when the shots were fired.
| Detail | Reported information |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Kyle Dearn, 38, of Pitt Street, Rotherham |
| Charge | Pleaded guilty to possessing a shotgun with intent to endanger life |
| Incident month | August 2025 (reported dates in coverage include 2 August and 12 August) |
| Court | Sheffield Crown Court |
The case highlights concerns about street-level gun incidents in Rotherham and the ripple effects on neighbours who felt threatened enough to leave their home. The lack of identified victims or car owners coming forward complicates police enquiries and leaves unanswered questions about wider criminal networks referenced in court. Sentencing will follow established legal processes for a charge of this gravity.
