THE mother of shotgun victim Darren Bell today spoke of her disappointment at the jail sentences given to his killers but said: "Thank goodness my nightmare is finally over."

Carol Bell , 51, spoke after her son's killers, Anthony O'Reilly, Paul McWillaims and Imtiaz Chopdat were sentenced to a total of 35 years.

Married father-of-one Darren, 31, of York Road, Blackburn, was shot dead at a house in the early hours of Thursday, February 22 last year.

His killers had gone to the address in Mona Road, Blackburn, as part of a dispute over an unpaid drug debt. Mrs Bell, who lives in Barrow-on-Furness, said: "I was quite surprised and disappointed by the sentences. I thought they might get more for what they did to my son, but I am relieved that the whole thing is over because the past year has been a nightmare.

"Whatever Darren did, he didn't deserve this.

"It has been very difficult, seeing Darren's friends and coming to terms with the fact he isn't here anymore. I sometimes expect him to just walk into the house.

"Hopefully this means we can move on and get on with our lives without having to worry about things."

Even though her son was involved with drug dealers, Mrs Bell paid tribute to him and said he was a "very bright, caring and loving" boy.

Preston Crown Court heard that O'Reilly, of Albion Mill in Ewood, McWilliams, of Stonyhurst Road and Chopdat, of Cicely Court, had gone to Mona Road with the intention to cause damage and to frighten Bell and Wareing, but not to cause serious injury.

O'Reilly, 36, and McWilliams, 28, were each jailed for 13 years and Chopdat, 31, for nine years.

All three had pleaded guilty to manslaughter after originally being charged with murder. Chopdat admitted manslaughter on the grounds he was carrying an unloaded gun while the other two had loaded ones.

David Steer QC, prosecuting, said the shooting was "the culmination of animosity" between Bell and his friends and the three defendants over the drug debt owed by Chopdat to Wareing.

Alastair Webster QC, Richard Marks QC and Clement Goldstone QC, defending, said none of the men had intended to kill and had been friends with Bell before the dispute over the drug money.

Sentencing O'Reilly and McWilliams, Mr Justice Gage said: "It is quite clear that you knew very well there were people in that house.

"This was a grave crime and it is difficult to think of a more serious, reckless and dangerous act than to fire shotguns into a house."

He added that though Chopdat had an unloaded gun he "must bear considerable responsibility for the death of Darren Bell" as he had known the others had loaded weapons and had given them encouragement and support.

After the case Det Insp Bob Eastwood said: "The severity of the sentences passed demonstrates the ferocity of the attack on Darren Bell. The three defendants were heavily involved in the drugs trade in Blackburn as shown by the level of violence used to enforce this dispute. Thankfully the use of firearms in Lancashire is rare."