A "cowardly" gunman who left his friend needing to have four surgeries after a row over a lift home has been convicted of attempted murder.

Essex Police launched an investigation on May 14 last year after receiving a call shortly after  2am about a man being shot in a car park on Frobisher Way, Shoebury.

Armed police attended the scene and the victim was located with a bullet wound to his leg.

The suspect was quickly identified as Adam Valli, who had been friends with the victim.

Enquiries revealed that the two men had been at a nightclub in London together on May 13 and had argued over a lift home. The argument continued over phone calls and text messages for a few hours with Valli threatening to "blast" the victim.

Valli then chased the victim down on the A127, cutting in front of the car he was in and shouted at him to get in, which the victim did.

Echo: The bullet found in Frobisher WayThe bullet found in Frobisher Way (Image: Essex Police)

While both men were in the car, Valli pulled out a gun and threatened to take the victim to outside his mother’s house and shoot him.

The two men got out of the car on Frobisher Way with Valli continuing to point the gun at the victim’s head. The victim was then shot in the leg. Valli told the victim he was going to bleed to death before he drove off.

Valli was arrested on May 19. He answered no comment to all questions in an interview.

He was charged with attempted murder, possession with intent to supply a class B drug, possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, having a firearm with intent to commit and indictable offence, possession of a firearm, assault against a constable in the execution of their duty and criminal damage.

Following a three-week trial at Basildon Crown Court, a jury found Valli guilty of attempted murder yesterday.

Detective Inspector Yoni Adler, from Essex Police's serious crime directorate, said: “It was very clear that Valli acted in a cowardly fashion following a perceived slight, arming himself with a gun before shooting the victim. 

“The victim’s injury was life-threatening and he has since had to have four surgeries to repair the damage. He is extremely lucky to be alive and I hope that he is able to move forward from what happened to him.

“The tenacity and high calibre of the investigation cannot be underestimated. Our officers worked quickly to arrest Valli and thoroughly investigate. This result has taken another dangerous individual off the streets and unable to harm anyone else.”

Valli will appear on April 8 for sentencing. He is due to stand trial for an alleged attack on police and drugs offence charges at a later date