Two men have been convicted of attempted murder after another man was chased and shot in Birmingham city centre on New Year’s Day.

Police rushed to Constitution Hill in response to the terrifying shooting which happened shortly after 5am on January 1 last year.

The victim, in his 20s, had been chased by 25-year-old gunman Christ Lidiu, who fled in a Seat Leon driven by accomplice Exauce Mazebo.

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The victim – who ran into a passing car in a bid to escape – was shot in the shoulder but escaped with his life.

Police established Lidiu and Mazebo, 23, had been in the Constitution Hill area earlier in the night where they were involved in a fight.

Both then travelled to Lidiu’s home where they collected a gun and returned to the scene.

Lidiu chased the victim and fired at him before Mazebo drove them away.

Police traced the Seat four days later and investigations revealed it had been bought by Lidiu.

He was identified as the shooter and Mazebo as the driver through phone records and CCTV footage.

Mazebo and Lidiu were arrested in Solihull on January 17 last year after a raid at an address in Erdington.

Detectives found clothes which matched CCTV of what the offenders were wearing in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

Mazebo tried to hide his phone in a freezer and messages revealed plans to leave Birmingham following the shooting.

Both men denied any involvement but on Monday, June 9, they were convicted after a trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

Lidiu, of Bridgelands Way, Perry Barr, and Mazebo, of New Heart Road, West Bromwich, were remanded into custody ahead of sentencing on September 19.

Det Insp Francis Nock, of West Midlands Police, said after the trial: “We won’t tolerate guns on our streets and we’ll continue to hunt down and arrest those who involve themselves in serious crime. On another occasion this could have been a murder investigation.

“Through diligent enquiries we were able to quickly identify Lidiu and Mazebo as being involved and present a strong case of evidence which secured their convictions. They now face substantial time behind bars.”