TWO men have been cleared of attempting to murder a Whitefield man.

Michael Sierotko, aged 24, of Sunlaw Street, Glossop, and Anthony Leonard, aged 26, of Mouselow Close, Hadfield, stood trial at Manchester Crown Court in connection with an incident involving Neil Hazelwood.

On September 8 last year, Mr Hazelwood, aged 28, was found in a wooded area near Huddersfield suffering from gunshot wounds.

Mr Hazelwood spent six weeks in hospital in Leeds under armed guard while he recovered from the shooting.

A jury found Leonard not guilty of attempted murder, conspiracy to kidnap, and blackmail.

Sierotko was cleared of attempted murder, but was convicted of manufacturing a firearm and conspiracy to blackmail Mr Hazelwood.

He is due to be sentenced at the same court on September 19.