‘Career criminal’ jailed for shooting after name suppression lifted

Career criminal Matthew Vernall can now be named after being sentenced for a string of crimes, including shooting a man and being caught with a stolen Bentley and the keys to a stolen Maserati.

Already serving time for the high-end car offences, Vernall was this month given a 28-month prison term for wounding with intent to injure, alongside co-offender Antony Gray, after a premeditated 2023 attack in which Vernall shot the victim through his car window.

Both men had cut off electronic bail monitors before confronting the victim.

The offending adds to Vernall’s extensive criminal history, which includes 70 theft-related convictions, firearm offences, and meth possession. Gray received a converted sentence of seven months’ home detention due to “rehabilitation efforts”.