JUNE
2012
Sentences and Convictions
GCN compiles
an on-going list of incidents involving guns. In this section
are sentences and convictions for court rulings, and the verdicts of
inquests, made this month.
We know that our information
is incomplete. The number of incidents in our lists is between 10
and 15 percent of the total number of firearms offences recorded in Home
Office and Scottish Government figures, though we believe nearly all of
the most serious crimes are being included. Your help in collecting more
information would be greatly appreciated. If you have any information
about an incident please contact us by email
contact@gun-control-network.org.
Please see
our explanation of
why we
highlight incidents involving air weapons.
ENGLAND
Haverhill Echo,
28
June 2012
Christopher Line has been jailed for life after being found guilty of
two counts of murder. Line used a shotgun
to shoot and kill two men on a travellers' site in Suffolk.
Police discovered the victims, aged 20 and 29, dead from multiple
gunshot wounds with one left lying inside a car that was on fire and the
other nearby.
Birmingham Mail,
28
June 2012
Lamar
Salmon has been jailed for 14 years after being found guilty of wounding
and possessing a firearm with intent. Salmon shot a teenager in
Birmingham in the leg after chasing him through the busy city centre
on Boxing Day of 2011.
Peterborough Telegraph,
28
June 2012
Mark
Chapman has been jailed for five years after shooting his father with an
air rifle in Peterborough.
The pellet narrowly missed the victim's heart, and he survived after
undergoing emergency surgery. Chapman also reportedly harassed his
ex-partner and fired the gun into the air on the streets of the town the
same evening. Chapman pleaded guilty to wounding, breaching a harassment
order and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent.
Bath Chronicle,
28
June 2012
George
Davies-Ball and Samuel Bryant have been jailed for five years each after
robbing a betting shop and a bank in Wiltshire. The pair
threatened victims, including a pregnant woman, with an
airgun in the two robberies. Both
men pled guilty to two robberies and two firearm offences.
Dorchester People,
28
June 2012
Robert
Newnham, 79, has been jailed for five years for attempted robbery. After
completing a five-year sentence for previously robbing a local bank, he
attempted to hold up a post office in Dorchester, telling staff
he had a gun and demanding money. Newnham was arrested and no weapon was
found.
Grimsby Telegraph,
27
June 2012
George
Wilkinson has been jailed for seven years after he threatened to kill
his ex-partner in Grimsby, Hull. Wilkinson reportedly sent
threatening messages to his ex-wife and their daughter in which he vowed
to kill the elder woman and himself. Meanwhile, Wilkinson acquired two
shotguns, shortened their barrels,
sought lessons in loading and shooting the firearms, and recorded
suicide messages before police arrested him. Wilkinson pleaded guilty to
possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and making threats to
kill.
The Citizen,
26
June 2012
Anthony
Bennett pleaded guilty to possessing an
imitation gun, a knife and drugs in Glocester.
Bennett was sentenced to a 12-month community order and 60 hours of
unpaid work.
East London and West Essex Guardian,
26
June 2012
Granville
Freckleton and Otis Lewis have been jailed for 12 years and 11 years,
respectively, after being found guilty of three counts of possession of
a firearm, two counts of possessing ammunition, one count of possessing
expandable bullets and possession of drugs. The men lived together in
Woodford Green, east London, where police raided their home and
recovered the weapons, including three loaded handguns.
Stroud News and Journal,
26
June 2012
An inquest
found that William Young, 82, shot himself dead in Middle Lypiatt,
Gloucestershire. Young shot himself in the head with a single-barrelled
shotgun at his home.
Shields Gazette,
26
June 2012
Kristen
Brown has been ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work after admitting
possession of a taser gun and
production of cannabis in South Tyneside. He was reportedly
caught carrying cannabis seedlings in public, and police then found
plants and the illegal firearm at his home.
The Sentinel,
23
June 2012
Robert
Court, Darren Duggan and Warren Jackson have been jailed for robbing
security guards at a supermarket in Trent Vale, Staffordshire.
The two victims believed the men had a gun when they threatened them and
escaped in a stolen car. Court was jailed for seven years and four
months, Jackson for seven years and Duggan for four years and eight
months.
Sunderland Echo,
23
June 2012
Andrew
Blake has been jailed for three months after admitting possessing a
prohibited weapon and possessing a firearm without a certificate. Blake
was caught with an air rifle and a
stun gun in South Hetton,
County Durham.
Blackpool Gazette,
22
June 2012
Timothy
Daly has been jailed for seven years after pleading guilty to robbery,
possession of an imitation firearm
and possession of a bladed weapon. Daly held up a jewellers in
Clevelys, Lancashire with a replica pistol and a knife, fleeing
after an altercation with the store owner and eventually being tracked
down by forensic evidence.
Hull Daily Mail,
22
June 2012
Stuart
Thacker has been given a six-month suspended prison sentence and ordered
to complete 240 hours of unpaid community work after he threatened
others with an air rifle in his pub
in Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire. Thacker pleaded guilty to
affray and possessing a false identity document.
Hackney Gazette,
20
June 2012
Scott
White has been jailed for seven years after pleading guilty to common
assault and possession of a firearm, ammunition and drugs with intent to
supply in Hackney, east London. Police executing a warrant found
a handgun, live ammunition and drugs in White's home, recovering the
drugs as he attempted to discard them upon their arrival.
Malvern Gazette,
20
June 2012
Alan
Waggott has been jailed for three months after pleading guilty to
carrying an imitation firearm in a
public place in Worcester. Waggott was caught driving drunk while
his passengers reportedly fired a BB gun at another car.
Hull Daily Mail,
18
June 2012
Lee Ollet
has been jailed for two years and two months after pleading guilty to
attempted robbery in Hull. Ollet attempted to rob a bookmakers
with an imitation gun he created, but the fake firearm did not fool his
victim. Ollet then fled the store, but was arrested nearby.
The Visitor,
17
June 2012
Anthony
and Jason Diprose were jailed for 16 years after being caught with
weapons and drugs in Preston. The men reportedly led a
drugs-dealing network and were also caught with firearms, including a
taser gun.
Nottingham Post,
16
June 2012
Craig
Phillips has been jailed for eight years after he and one other man
carried out an armed raid in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire.
Phillips reportedly abducted a sub-postmaster at gunpoint in an effort
to gain access to a post office's safe. Phillips admitted kidnap,
attempted robbery and possession of an
imitation firearm.
Evening Gazette,
16
June 2012
Paul Venis
has been jailed for three years after admitting possession of an
imitation pistol and drugs. Venis'
home in Teeside was reportedly shot with a shotgun blast,
and in response he armed himself with a replica pistol. Police caught
him in a taxi with the firearm and a quantity of cocaine.
Worcester News,
16
June 2012
Alan
Waggot has been jailed for three months after pleading guilty to
carrying an imitation firearm in a
public place. He was arrested in Worcester and also admitted
drink-driving after police followed him when they received reports of a
car being hit by a pellet from a BB gun.
Blackpool Gazette,
13
June 2012
Jacob
Williamson, 20, has been jailed for eight years after threatening youths
with an imitation gun and a hunting
knife in Blackpool. Williamson reportedly carried out two
muggings, robbing four teenage boys on one occasion and attempting to
rob a man who was able to flee after Williamson attacked him.
Evening Standard,
11
June 2012
Mohammed
Ismail has been jailed for six years after being caught with two assault
rifles. Police found the prohibited weapons at his home in Edmonton,
north London.
Swindon Advertiser,
11
June 2012
Mario
Mazzotta has been jailed for five years for possession of a firearm and
possession with intent to supply drugs. Mazzotta is part of a group of
15 people sent to prison as a result of a drugs operation around
Swindon.
Chester First,
11
June 2012
Robert
Reynolds was fined after pleading guilty to possession of ammunition for
a firearm. Reynolds was caught storing two live bullets in his cupboard
in Chester and was fined £300. Reynolds had previously been
cautioned for possessing a firearm in a public place after he was caught
concealing an air rifle down his
jacket in Abergele, North Wales.
The Sun,
8
June 2012
Six gang
members were convicted of riot, arson and firearms possession with
intent to endanger life following the riots in Birmingham in
2011. The criminals, aged 17 to 26, were held responsible for at least
12 shots fired at a police helicopter and officers. They were each
jailed at least 12 years.
Herald Series,
8
June 2012
Luke
Alford has been convicted of possessing an imitation firearm with intent
to cause fear of violence and possessing drugs with intent to supply. He
fired an airgun out of his window at
a passing taxi in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, and police found a large
supply of drugs at his home.
Virtual Lancaster,
8
June 2012
Dominick
Garside and Christopher Garside have been jailed for six years each
after carrying out an armed robbery in Lancaster. The brothers
threatened staff at a building society with an imitation gun before
stealing cash, but were caught soon thereafter in Wales.
Harrow Observer,
7
June 2012
Henley
Stephenson has been jailed for 14 years after being convicted of 19
counts of robbery and five counts of possessing a firearm -- a
semi-automatic pistol -- in Harrow, north London. Two of
Stephenson's accomplices, Leon Topper and Dean Williams, were jailed for
eight years and six years, respectively, for their role in the string of
robberies.
Mobile News,
6
June 2012
A gang of
university students have been jailed for robbing a string of retail
stores in Hertfordshire, Essex and London. The
perpetrators reportedly used a stun gun
and knives as they assaulted staff during the robberies. The
three ringleaders, students at the University of Hertfordshire, were
each jailed at least six years.
Nottingham Post,
6
June 2012
Leonard
Ward has been jailed for seven years after pleading guilty to possessing
a sub-machine gun and ammunition in Nottingham, in addition to
drugs charges. The firearm is legal to own when deactivated, but Ward
adapted it to fire.
The Star,
2
June 2012
Liam
Winter admitted possessing an offensive weapon and drugs after a
large-scale police operation in Sheffield resulted in 16 cannabis
growers sentenced. Winter was found in possession of an illegal
stun gun in addition to cannabis
plants.
Shields Gazette,
1
June 2012
Aaron
Teasdale, 19, and a 17-year-old girl have been jailed indefinitely after
they attacked a disabled man in South Shields, Tyne and Wear.
The pair left the victim in intensive care after beating him, burning
him and shooting him with a BB gun,
apparently in pursuit of his benefit check. Both assailants admitted
causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Click Manchester,
1
June 2012
Anthony
Horrocks has been jailed indefinitely after pleading guilty to three
counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery and four counts of
possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. Horrocks
committed all the robberies in the Greater Manchester area before
being captured by police.
Hucknall Dispatch,
1
June 2012
Darren
James has been jailed for 15 years after police found an explosive
chemical, weapons and a stolen car at his flat in Bulwell,
Nottingham. In addition to the dangerous chemical and car, police
recovered an illegal shotgun, an
air rifle, ammunition and stolen
knives and axes.
Swindon Advertiser,
1
June 2012
Peter
Wheeler and Tommy Ellingham have been jailed for 15 years and eight
years, respectively after carrying out a series of armed robberies, the
last of which was in Chiseldon, Swindon. In the final attack they
reportedly threatened a shop attendant with a
BB gun.
Leicester Mercury,
1
June 2012
Curtis
West has been jailed for 12 months after assaulting his neighbour with a
gun in Leicester. West struck the victim, who he accused of
stealing his mobile phone, with a gun, causing him to require stitches.
West admitted causing actual bodily harm.
Daily Record,
1
June 2012
James
Adams has been jailed for five years after being caught with weapons in
his car in Edinburgh. Officers found him in possession of a
knife, a stun gun and CS gas.
Mirror,
1
June 2012
Kerri Wood
pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and possessing a hunting knife
after an incident in Hull. Wood reportedly brandished a handgun
and fired multiple shots at a police officer before she was tackled and
arrested by the officer.
SCOTLAND
STV,
21
June 2012
Ross Hind
admitted illegally possessing an imitation gun
in East Dunbartonshire. Hind was caught with a replica
firearm outside the Celtic Football Club training ground.
WALES
Leader Live,
18
June 2012
Damien
Lloyd has been jailed for seven and a half years after pleading guilty
to drugs offences and possessing a stun gun.
Police recovered the firearm when they raided Lloyd's home in Mold,
Flintshire as a result of a drugs investigation.
