SEAN MERCER went to the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth Park to shoot down a gang rival, the court heard.

But Rhys Jones was the innocent victim caught in the cross-fire of a war that has raged in Liverpool 11 for more than four years.

Mercer, it is alleged, was drawn to the pub by a phone call informing him that members of a rival gang were outside.

One was Wayne Brady, who, the court was told, also had “personal animosity” with Mercer.

But the underlying hatred stemmed from years of tit-for-tat shootings and violence.

Neil Flewitt, QC, prosecuting, told the court: “In the Croxteth area, there is a gang of young men who call themselves and are known by others as 'The Croxteth Crew', 'The Crocky Crew', 'Croxteth Young Guns' and 'Croxteth Young Thugs'. It is the prosecution case that these defendants were all members of, or associated with, that gang.

“In the nearby Norris Green area, there is an opposing gang of young men who are known as either 'The Strand Gang' or 'The Nogga Dogs'.

“Since at least the beginning of 2004, there has been a feud between 'The Croxteth Crew' and The Strand Gang. That feud has been characterised by numerous incidents of criminal damage and assault, including the use of firearms.