A GUNMAN who tried to kill an ice cream parlour boss by blasting him in the chest with a pistol is facing years behind bars.

Temidire Owolabi, 21, stormed into Cakes and Shakes in the High Road, Woodford Green , before opening fire on 24-year-old James Bryant.

The victim spent two months in hospital following the attack on November 14 and was lucky to survive.

Owolabi was convicted of attempted murder and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life after his trial ended at the Old Bailey earlier today (Wednesday).

He wept in the dock as the verdicts were delivered before exploding in a rage, telling the jury they would 'burn in hell' and gesturing angrily to the public gallery.

Six security guards were needed to restrain him and one female juror was reduced to tears by his outburst.

After nearly 27 hours of deliberation, the jury failed to reach a verdict on allegations that Owolabi had plotted the attack with 23-year-old Romain Arthur.

Arthur, of Hazel Way in Chingford, was said to have ordered the hit after Mr Bryant was seen with Arthur’s two-year-old son during a trip to Westfield Shopping Centre in Stratford.

Both will face a retrial, at a date yet to be fixed, on a single charge of conspiracy to murder, after which Owolabi will be sentenced.

Owolabi was cleared of a further count of possessing a firearm, relating to an earlier shooting at Cakes and Shakes on November 12.

It was two days later, as Mr Bryant returned to the cafe with his mother, business partner and manager to clean up the wreckage, that Owolabi stormed in.

Richard Horwell QC, for the prosecution, said: “He opened the front door to the cafe, walked inside and shot Mr Bryant at very close range twice.

“Owolabi then ran away, leaving behind him chaos.”

Owolabi's car was traced and he was arrested three days later in Southampton.

Mobile phone cell site records showed he was in the vicinity of Cakes and Shakes at the time of the shooting.

But giving evidence he claimed he had been at the home of a friend in nearby St Patrick's Court to retrieve a jacket.

Under cross examination Owolabi had said: “I find it ridiculous.

“I'm supposed to have shot somebody because he was holding my friend's son, but my friend wasn't even upset by it.

“Even if he was, I've got my own life.

'It's completely ridiculous and I can't even believe this is happening, to be honest.”

Arthur was also found not guilty on two counts of perverting the course of justice.

He was alleged to have approached the mother of his son, Sade Lasisi, in an attempt to get her to withdraw her evidence and have the case dropped.

He was also said to have offered £20,000 to be passed onto Mr Bryant to encourage him to tell police Owolabi was not the gunman.

Owolabi, of Brandon Close, Chafford Hundred, Essex, denied attempted murder and possessing a firearm with intent and was convicted.

He was cleared of a further count of possessing a firearm with intent.

Arthur was cleared of two counts of perverting the course of justice.

Jurors failed to reach a verdict in respect of both men on a charge of conspiracy to murder, which they deny.