Peppered by 150 shotgun pellets: Victim survives but will die 25 years early because doctors can't remove them

An X-ray shows the horrific wounds of a man peppered with more than 150 shotgun pellets.

Joe Clarke, 33, survived the terrifying doorstep attack, but doctors could not remove any of the pellets because some had penetrated his vital organs.

Medics have told him the horrific injuries will send him to an early grave - reducing his life expectancy by at least 25 years.

X-ray: The image showing the pellets that remain inside the body of Joe Clarke who was shot s outside his home in Consett, County Durham

In December 2007, two men brandishing sawn-off shotguns opened fire on Mr Clarke when he answered the door of his home in Fairways, Consett, County Durham.

The steel or lead pellets entered his back, head and neck. He still managed to flee and only escaped possible death when a neighbour pulled him to safety inside their own home. 

Eight months after the attack, which is alleged to have stemmed from a row with his former girlfriend, five men were charged with conspiring to murder him

Aftermath: The bloodied wounds from the shotgun pellets which peppered Joe Clarke's back

But their trial collapsed when police methods, including raids on the defendants’ solicitor Paul Donoghue’s home and reading files, were called into question.

Shooting victim Joe Clarke: I'm still scared'

The defendants, Paul Railton, 23, of Leeholme Court, Annfield Plain; his uncle, Gary Railton, 42, of Windermere Terrace, Stanley; Simon Cairns, 20, of South View Gardens, Annfield Plain; Neil Spoor, 39, of Earnest Terrace, Stanley and Abbie Whitehead, 23, of Pemberton Avenue, Consett, denied the charge and were all cleared along with Mr Donoghue.

Durham Police’s handling of the case is now subject to an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Mr Clarke said: 'I have lost everything. I have been told that all the pellets lodged inside me will take 25 years off my life.'

He is still living with the affects of the shooting, which has left him in daily pain. 'The hospital said that they have never seen anything like it.

'I feel as though I’m the only one serving a sentence because of what happened, and there will be no justice.'

Describing the moment he was shot, Mr Clarke said: 'The sensation was like this terrible burning feeling – I’m still in pain now.

'But the mental side-effects are much worse than the physical injuries. I’m still scared.

“My life since I was shot has been hell.'