Paul Allen, a 46-year-old career criminal, was shot twice in his kitchen at his luxury home in Woodford, east London, during a murder conspiracy on July 11, 2019.

The shooting left Allen paralyzed for life, with one bullet striking him in the throat and another lodged in his spine, necessitating urgent surgical intervention.

The accused, Daniel Kelly and brothers Stewart and Louis Ahearne, aged 36 to 46, are currently on trial at the Old Bailey for conspiracy to murder, having denied the charges.

Prosecutor Michael Shaw revealed that the alleged assailants conducted weeks of reconnaissance, using unregistered phones and hired vehicles to surveil Allen's home.

Shaw described Allen as a sophisticated criminal and emphasized the premeditated nature of the attack, which involved the shooters firing six bullets, two of which struck Allen.

The prosecutor stated that the gunmen's intent was to kill Allen, as evidenced by the use of a 9mm Glock handgun during the attack.

DNA evidence allegedly links the Ahearnes to the crime scene, with items related to the crime, including a Glock sight, found in Kelly's possession.

The court heard that the defendants made mistakes during their planning, which ultimately led to their identification by law enforcement.

Police quickly located the gunmen by finding spent shell casings at the scene and took DNA samples that matched those of Kelly and Louis Ahearne.

Witnesses reported hearing gunshots throughout Woodford, and Allen's partner, Jade Bovingdon, was heard screaming for help during the incident.

The trial is ongoing, with further developments expected as evidence is presented and the prosecution outlines the methodical planning behind the attempt on Allen's life.

Allen is known as the mastermind behind the UK's largest armed robbery, the 2006 Securitas depot heist in Tonbridge, Kent, where £54 million was stolen.