A hitman hired by a family to assassinate a rival ended up shooting one of his employers in the penis, a court heard.

Thomas Anderson was accidentally hit in the groin by bungling gunman Arthur Pattinson during a drive-by shooting, Newcastle Crown Court was told.

It is alleged that the bullet fired by Pattinson passed through the arm of intended victim Stanley Creswell, went through a garden gate then ricocheted into Mr Anderson's groin.

Luckily for him the bullet did not have sufficient force to do serious damage.

Pattinson 42, had been hired by the Anderson family to kill 36-year-old Mr Creswell, following a long running feud with William "Ike" Anderson, 29, over £60,000.

Chris Knox, prosecuting, told the court how "Ike" had fled to the Dominican Republic days before the shooting after threatening Mr Creswell with an imitation pistol.

But his father William "Billy Dad" Anderson, 55, and uncles Stanley Anderson, 43, and Thomas Anderson, 47, continued the feud.

Tommy acted as a "spotter," following Mr Creswell's movements on the day he was to be murdered - August 19 last year.

The court heard how Tommy had informed the hitman by phone that his target had arrived at his home in Clydesdale Street, Hetton le Hole, Tyne and Wear, after a trip to the local baker.

But he had not bargained on Creswell making his way to confront Tommy at his home just around the corner in Borrowdale Road.

The gunman arrived as planned, taking aim while Creswell was at Anderson's garden gate.

Mr Knox told the court: "Stan Creswell was shot by Arthur Pattinson as he stood outside Tommy Anderson's garden gate at Borrowdale Road, Hetton le Hole.

"The shot went straight through Creswell's arm, went through the gate of Tommy Anderson's garden and actually finished up hitting Tommy Anderson."

"That shooting was, say the prosecution, the culmination of a plot by members of the Anderson family and Arthur Pattinson to revenge themselves upon Creswell because of a grudge which Ike had against Creswell."

The court heard how Mr Creswell had earlier been told: "a lad is going to kill you and chop you up" and even received a call from the hitman in the days leading up to the shooting, saying: "your time will come."

William "Ike" Anderson, of High Street, Easington Lane, has admitted two charges of possessing an imitation fire arm with intent to cause fear of violence relating to threats made to Mr Creswell and his friends before the shooting.

He denies conspiracy to harass and conspiracy to murder.

Arthur Pattinson, of Striding Edge, Washington, Stanley Anderson, of North View, Easington Lane, Thomas Anderson, of Borrowdale Street, Hetton le Hole, and William Anderson, of High Street, Easington Lane, all deny conspiracy to harrass and conspiracy to murder.

The trial continues.