PICTURED: Four killers of Swinton man Lewis Williams jailed for total of 78 years

The 20-year-old was shot dead on Wath Road, Mexborough, on January 11.

The four killers sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday were Jack Parkes (21), of Arnold Crescent, Mexborough; Joe Anderton (18), of Jubilee Road, Wheatley, Doncaster; Taylor Meanley (17), formerly of Victoria Street, Mexborough; and Arlind Nika (16), of Spelman Street, London.

Meanley and Nika can now be identified and pictured after the court upheld an application from the Advertiser for their anonymity to be removed.

Meanley, who fired the home-made shotgun which killed Mr Williams, and Parkes were found guilty of murder, while Anderton and Nika were found guilty of manslaughter on October 15 following a six-week trial.

All four were also convicted of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Parkes and Meanley were sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 27 years.

Anderton and Nika were sentenced to detention for 12 years.

Det Chief Insp James Axe, who led the inquiry, said: “I would like to offer my condolences to Lewis’ family and thank them for their continued support throughout these proceedings.

"I hope the sentences handed down by the judge will help to provide them with some comfort.”

The court heard that Parkes, Meanley, Anderton and Nika had met at a BP service station in Goldthorpe, before all getting into a car together.

Mr Axe continued: “As well as the defendants, there was a gun in that car.

"The car pulled away just after 4pm and was driven to Wath Road, Mexborough.

“The car was driven past Lewis once, before being turned around and doubling back.

"It was on that second drive past that a shot was fired by Meanley – hitting Lewis in the neck.”

When police arrived at the scene, they found Mr Williams with serious injuries.

Despite the best efforts of both members of the public and paramedics, he was pronounced dead a short time later.

A post-mortem examination revealed he died as a result of gunshot wounds to the neck and chest.

Mr Axe added: “Throughout this trial, the defendants claimed that there was no plan to kill Lewis that day.

"Meanley attempted to convince the jury that he believed the improvised firearm was only capable of discharging an empty shotgun cartridge and making a loud bang.

“The jury saw through those lies and I am pleased that all four now face a lengthy time behind bars.

"The absolute reckless nature of events that played out on January 11 not only endangered the life of Lewis, but also his associates and the broader public, going about their lawful business”.

Mr Williams’s mum Sandra said following the hearing: “The loss of Lewis has left our family devastated and we know that life will never be the same.

"We are totally broken without him, and we still feel numb.

“To lose a child is something no parent should have to go through - I feel lost and as if a part of me is missing.

"I don’t know how I’m ever going to be able to fix this.

“As a family, we are satisfied with the sentences handed down by the court and feel that justice has been served for Lewis.

“We would also like to thank South Yorkshire Police’s Major Crime Unit for their professionalism and securing the guilty verdicts for Lewis."