An NHS nurse is facing up to ten years in jail after she agreed to become an underworld 'cleaner' for her own son after he shot and wounded a love rival.
Patricia Dean, 58, called in sick at work to clear up after 28-year old Vincenzo De Falco when he kneecapped Jonathan Smith with a shotgun as the victim sat in the back of her car.
As police hunted her son, Dean, the specialist mental health nurse at a Manchester hospital had the Mercedes sports model undergo a full valet and deep clean at a car wash to removes traces of Mr Smith's blood.
A court heard then left the vehicle, which had been hired for her by the NHS, at the home of her unwitting sister in the hope police would not be able to find it.
NHS nurse Patricia Dean, 58, is facing up to ten years in jail after she became an underworld 'cleaner' for her son Vincenzo De Falco (pictured together) after he kneecapped a love rival with a shotgun in the back of her car
Smith, 25, who was the ex-lover of De Falco's girlfriend was found dumped in the street in Rochdale and was taken to hospital with serious leg injuries. He underwent several hours of surgery for his wounds.
Police later recovered the Mercedes and found traces of his blood on the seals around the rear passenger compartment.
At Bolton Crown Court, Dean of Sowerby Bridge, West Yorks was found guilty by a jury of assisting an offender.
De Falco, of Bacup, Lancs, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent at an earlier hearing. No motive was given for the shooting.
The court heard Mr Smith was attacked on January 21 2019 after being lured into the back of the Mercedes by De-Falco who had told friends he 'wanted to put the jitters' on someone.
As police hunted De Falco, the specialist mental health nurse at a Manchester hospital had the Mercedes sports model undergo a full valet and deep clean at a car wash in a bid to clean Smith's blood stains away
At Bolton Crown Court, Dean of Sowerby Bridge, West Yorks was found guilty by a jury of assisting an offender and could face up to ten years in jail
Philip Barnes prosecuting said: 'That car was a lease hire vehicle, hired to Patricia Dean via her employer, the National Health Service. She herself had another car, a BMW but her son, it seems, drove the Mercedes.
'Mr Smith was shot through the front of the left leg, at point blank range, with a shotgun while he was sitting in the back of the Mercedes.
'De Falco - the shooter - had been sitting in the front seat of that car and had turned and fired his shotgun through the leg of Mr Smith who was sitting in the rear and then pushed Smith out of his car and onto the pavement before driving off.
'In the hour that followed, De Falco made repeated telephone contact with his girlfriend who had also been the ex-girlfriend of Jonathan Smith - the man he shot. She then called Patricia Dean and told her what had happened.
'Within minutes, Patricia Dean was on the move to where her son lived and they met in order to
