SEPTEMBER 2009
We prepare
a monthly summary of gun incidents, focussing on those that raise key
issues about the nature of gun crime and the adequacy of gun legislation.
Items that have been amended or added to the list since the
Summary was written are marked (*).
ENGLAND
MK News, 30 September 2009
A mother and her baby were
showered with glass when a bus travelling in Shenley Lodge, Milton
Keynes, was shot with an airgun.
The woman sustained a small cut.
Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 30 September 2009
A .22
air rifle was taken from a car in Meltham, West
Yorkshire.
Haringey Independent, 30 September 2009 *
Rodney Adams has pleaded
guilty to robbery and possession of a firearm following an armed raid on a
bookmakers in Green Lanes, north London, in September 2008.
He fled the scene with around £600 after threatening two members of staff
with an imitation firearm. He
has been jailed for seven years (Haringey Independent, 28 October
2009).
Stourbridge News, 29 September 2009
Kevin McClenaghan, an off-duty
police officer from Brierley Hill, West Midlands, has been
commended for his bravery after he confronted a man in January 2009.
The man wearing camouflage clothes was walking away from a parked car with
what looked like a firearm in his hands. He followed the man, who
then pointed an air rifle, and pulled
the gun from his reach before arresting him.
Evening Courier, 29 September 2009
A pub landlord in West Vale,
West Yorkshire, was ambushed as he cashed up by two men wielding baseball
bats and an airgun. The gun was
found at the scene and has been sent for forensic analysis.
Echo, 29 September 2009
A 16-year-old was shot at with
a BB gun, beaten and pistol whipped by
other teenagers in a park in Billericay, Essex. The victim
and two friends were attacked without warning.
The Citizen (Blackburn), 29 September 2009
Drivers were shot at by
air rifle snipers in Oswaldtwistle,
Lancashire. Police say motorists only managed to avoid an accident
by good luck. The drivers of three vehicles contacted police after
incidents which damaged their cars.
BBC, 29 September 2009
Ashley Bucknor shot dead a
teenager in an attack at a supermarket in Walworth, south London,
in August 2008 (see Incidents).
The shot was fired in retaliation following an earlier incident. He
was found guilty of murder and must serve at least 32 years.
Wandsworth Guardian, 28 September 2009
A 17-year-old was shot and
injured in Wandsworth, south London. He was in a stable
condition in hospital.
Manchester Evening News, 28 September 2009
A woman was threatened with a
shotgun when two men smashed their way
into her house in Droylsden, Greater Manchester. Police
believe the men may have gone to the wrong address.
Evening Telegraph (Northamptonshire), 28 September 2009
A 17-year-old was shot with an
airgun in Corby,
Northamptonshire. He was leaving a petrol station when he was shot
by someone on one of three off-road motorcycles. He was hit in the
lower stomach area though was not seriously injured.
BBC, 27 September 2009 *
A gunman fired a shot outside
a club in Luton, Bedfordshire. Nobody was hurt and no
property was damaged. The nightclub is to have its licence reviewed
following this and two other incidents (Luton Today, 19 October
2009).
BBC, 27 September 2009
Nine people were arrested
after gunshots were heard in Southend, Essex. Police were
called to a car park and recovered a handgun. A man has been charged
with possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life (BBC, 28
September 2009).
Lancashire Evening Post, 26 September 2009 *
A suspected robber has been
shot and seriously injured by police marksmen during an operation in
Haslingden, Lancashire. Three suspects were detected by firearms
officers. The man was taken to hospital where he was described as in
a serious but stable condition. Two other men were arrested on
suspicion of conspiracy to commit armed robbery. Two
shotguns, a Glock handgun, a TP9
semi-automatic weapon and a Taser were all fired during the incident (BBC,
29 September 2009). A man has been charged with conspiracy to commit
robbery and owning a firearm while disqualified (BBC, 3 October
2009). A fourth man has been charged with conspiracy to commit
robbery and firearms offences (BBC, 13 October 2009). One man
has admitted firearms offences but three others who have admitted
conspiracy to commit robbery have denied the firearms charges. All
three have been convicted of possessing a firearm (see
July 2010 Incidents).
Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 26 September 2009
A BB
gun or air weapon was fired
at a kitchen window in Almondbury, West Yorkshire, causing a hole
in the outer pane of glass.
BBC, 26 September 2009 *
Two men have been taken to
hospital after they were found with gunshot wounds in Aston,
Birmingham. Both victims are said to be in a stable condition.
One of the men has since been released from hospital but a 19-year-old who
has a bullet wound in his lower back remains in hospital (BBC, 30
September 2009). A man and a woman have been charged with two counts
of attempted murder and the man has also been charged with possession of a
firearm with intent to endanger life and robbery. A second man has
been charged with assisting an offender (BBC, 26 November 2009).
This is Surrey Today, 25 September 2009
A
shotgun was fired into the ceiling of a store in Hurst Green,
Surrey, during an armed robbery. Two men demanded cash from the
shopkeeper but the men ran out of the store empty handed.
Sunderland Echo, 25 September 2009
A 16-year-old was found with
an imitation handgun, a mask and cans
of lager. The teenager from Sunderland had breached his
curfew order. He admitted breaching his order, possession of a fake
gun and assaulting a police officer. Richard Morrow has been
sentenced to a six-month Detention Training Order which will run in unison
with a sentence he is already serving at a Young Offenders' Institute (Sunderland
Echo, 12 October 2009).
Mid Cheshire Chronicle, 25 September 2009 *
A gun was fired in Winsford,
Cheshire. It is thought the incident is linked to one in which a
group of men armed with baseball bats smashed up a vehicle. Six men
have been arrested in connection with the shooting (Winsford Guardian,
26 January 2010).
Guardian (Epping Forest, Waltham Forest, Wanstead & Woodford), 25 September 2009
A man was shot in the leg
outside a pub in Leyton, north east London. A few days before
a teenager had been shot in the groin in the same street. A
paramedic was also shot with an airgun
in Leyton in August 2009.
BBC, 25 September 2009
A man carrying a
sawn-off shotgun confronted a security
guard in Kempston, Bedfordshire and took a cash box. The
anti-theft device went off leaving the robber covered in red dye.
This is Nottingham, 24 September 2009
A burger van trader was beaten
with metal bars and had a gun put to his head by four robbers. The
robbery took place at a retail park in Nottingham where the victim
was staying overnight in his van in an attempt to stop it being
vandalised. A cash card and £65 were stolen and the van trashed.
This is Gloucestershire, 24 September 2009
A home in Bishop's Cleeve,
Gloucestershire, has been attacked and a window smashed with a
BB gun pellet.
The Press, 24 September 2009
Two youths were seen pointing
realistic looking pistols at passing motorists in York, resulting
in a number of calls to police from concerned members of the public.
A 16-year-old was arrested on suspicion of possessing an imitation firearm
with intent to cause fear of violence. Police have issued yet
another warning over the use of BB guns
and have asked parents not to buy such items for their children.
Harrow Observer, 24 September 2009
An 11-year-old boy was
allegedly shot in the face with a pellet gun
at a school in Wembley, north west London. The boy was left
with a broken tooth. A 12-year-old boy was arrested for wounding
with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and bailed.
Evening Standard, 24 September 2009
Seven suspected teenage gang
members have been arrested after they filmed YouTube videos with an
imitation gun in Wood Green and
Hornsey, north London.
Doncaster Free Press, 24 September 2009
Alistair Lees, Simon Cooper
and Chris Taylor have been jailed after an attempted robbery at a home in
Doncaster, South Yorkshire, in February 2008 during which Lees
brandished an imitation firearm.
Cooper and Taylor, who are both aged 18, said they were unaware that Lees
had taken a gun. They all pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and
Lees admitted a charge of possession of an imitation firearm. Lees
was given a 39 month sentence, the other offenders were ordered to serve
15 months in a Young Offenders' Institution.
Cambridge News, 24 September 2009
Andrew Billimore and Vicki
Gray were caught with cannabis plants and an
imitation firearm at their home in Little Downham,
Cambridgeshire. Billimore was given a 12-month suspended prison
sentence and ordered to do 200 hours of community service, Gray received a
nine-month suspended prison sentence and 150 hours of community service.
BBC, 24 September 2009
Richard McCrorie and Alexander
Gould, who placed fake car adverts on the Gumtree website and then robbed
people who responded, pleaded guilty to robbery, attempted robbery and
possession of an imitation firearm.
In their first attack in Woking, Surrey, the men, one carrying a
black pistol, ran from behind a hedge and dragged their victim from a
driver's seat. McCrorie was jailed for seven years and Gould for six
years.
BBC, 24 September 2009
Seven men have been arrested
in a series of raids in Huyton, Merseyside, as part of a crackdown
on gun crime.
West Yorkshire Police, 23 September 2009
Javan Service, 18, one of
eight men who started serious violence and disorder in Leeds city
centre in December 2008 (see
January 2009 Incidents), has been given a 12 year sentence for
violent disorder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with
intent to cause fear and violence and possession of a prohibited weapon.
This is Bristol, 23 September 2009
A store supervisor has told a
court how she was shot in the back and had a handgun held to her face
during a robbery in Brislington, Bristol, in November 2008. A
man has denied robbery and having a firearm with intent, a silver
gas-powered air pistol. A second
man said to be involved has not been identified. Michael Daly has
been convicted of robbery and having a firearm with intent and has been
jailed for 10 years (This is Bristol, 25 September 2009).
Tameside Advertiser, 23 September 2009
A female travel agent was shot
in the arm with a stun gun during an
armed robbery in Ashton, Greater Manchester. The gang, a
woman and three men, stole a large amount of cash.
Scarborough Evening News, 23 September 2009
A man was robbed at gunpoint
when he was approached from behind by two men in Whitby, North
Yorkshire. One of the men held what is believed to be a black
handgun to the victim's chest before making off with his phone and a sum
of cash.
Oldham Advertiser, 23 September 2009
A youngster riding a BMX bike
had a gun held to his head by a group of older teenagers who demanded he
hand over the bike. The incident took place in Hollinwood,
Greater Manchester.
Kent Online, 23 September 2009
Five teenagers have been
arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear.
The arrests followed complaints that a paintball
gun was being fired at cars and houses in Walmer, Kent.
A paintball gun was found by police.
Evening Courier, 23 September 2009
Thousands of pounds of damage
were caused when more than 20 cars were targeted by vandals in Halifax,
West Yorkshire. It is believed those responsible were travelling in
a car and were using an airgun.
Crewe and Nantwich Guardian, 23 September 2009
Five men have been jailed for
six years each for holding a homeowner in Crewe, Cheshire, at
gunpoint. They burst into the home and forced him to lie on the
floor with the gun pointed at his head. The attack was interrupted
when a female living at the house managed to hide and dial 999.
Thomas Clough, Philip Burton, Christopher Roland, Daniel Edwards and Keith
Pashill pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and possession of an
imitation firearm.
Worcester News, 22 September 2009
An inquest heard that a
depressed woman purchased a .22 air rifle
the day before she was found dead at her home in Malvern,
Worcestershire, in May 2009. She had shot herself with the gun.
The coroner recorded a verdict of suicide.
Peterlee Mail,
22 September 2009 *
A court has heard how two
men burst into a home in Hartlepool armed with a
fake submachine gun and a knife. The
men demanded cash and the victims were forced to hand over £130. One of
the men, David Whitehead, has pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and
possession of an imitation firearm. Paul Keers, who denied being
involved, was found guilty aggravated burglary and possession of an
offensive weapon (Hartlepool Mail, 25 September 2009). The men
have been jailed for 12 years (Hartlepool Mail, 10 November
2009). Whitehead's sentence has been cut and he will now serve an
overall term of four years and 10 months (Hartlepool Mail, 5
March 2010).
Hertfordshire Mercury, 22 September 2009
A robber made off with the
takings from a pub in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, after threatening a
member of staff with a gun. No-one was injured during the robbery.
BBC, 22 September 2009
A teenager was shot during an
attack by a gang of masked men in Huyton, Merseyside. The
19-year-old was taken to hospital for treatment to a gunshot wound to his
buttock.
BBC, 22 September 2009 *
Two men armed with a knife and
a firearm demanded money in a raid on a post office in Staple Tye,
Essex, but drove off without taking any money. The police have named two
men they want in interview about the attempted robbery (BBC, 4
February 2010).
The Argus, 22 September 2009
Gavin Pryce thought to be
armed with a gun when he demanded cash from betting shop staff in
Brighton in April 2009. He stole a total of £1389. He has
been jailed for four years.
North Norfolk News, 21 September 2009
Cars in Sheringham and
North Walsham, Norfolk, have been damaged and police believe an
airgun was involved.
Louth Leader, 21 September 2009
Armed police were called to a
house in Marshchapel, Lincolnshire, where a 16-year-old boy had
locked himself in his bedroom with a knife. A knife and an
air weapon were found during a search of
the house. The boy fled the scene but was arrested later on
suspicion of common assault.
Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 21 September 2009 *
Two or three gun shots were
fired at the occupant of a vehicle in Birkby, West Yorkshire.
The incident took place close to the entrance to a busy park. One
man has been charged with attempted murder and police have named a
teenager they also wish to question (Huddersfield Daily Examiner,
12 February 2010). The attack involved a
shotgun. A man had gone on trial but the judge threw out
the prosecution case against him and he has been found not guilty (Huddersfield Daily
Examiner, 12 May 2010).
The Herald (Plymouth), 21 September 2009 *
A 19-year-old has appeared in
court accused of threatening strangers in the street with a gun as well as
imprisoning a man and injuring him. The charges include robbery,
assault causing actual bodily harm, making threats to kill and possessing
a handgun. The incident with the gun took place near Whitleigh
Bridge, Plymouth, in June 2009. He has been jailed for eight
years (see February 2010
Incidents).
Harrow Times, 21 September 2009
Fatai Olaiya has been jailed
indefinitely for an attack on a 15-year-old girl, whom he raped twice, and
for an armed robbery which he committed 25 minutes later. Both
crimes took place in Kingsbury, north west London. During the
robbery he was armed with a knife and a gun. His victim dropped his
car keys and Olaiya drove off in the vehicle. He was arrested after
being chased by police. He has been jailed indefinitely and must
serve a minimum of five years.
Guardian, 21 September 2009 *
Paul Alexander, an ex-soldier,
set up gun factories from which he supplied weapons to street gangs in
Liverpool, Manchester and the West Midlands. Using
skills he acquired while serving in the Royal Artillery he converted
replica guns at factories in Bardfield
Saling, Essex, and Bath. His DNA was discovered on a
handgun seized by police during a crackdown on gang violence in Liverpool
following the death of Rhys Jones. Alexander was arrested at the
property he rented in Essex where police uncovered 28 firearms and more
than 10,000 bullets. He has been linked to ammunition and guns used
in 28 incidents including one alleged murder, four attempted murders, nine
other shootings and an armed robbery. He pleaded guilty to two
counts of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, converting
imitation firearms into real guns, possessing or manufacturing prohibited
ammunition and other offences. He has been jailed indefinitely and
will serve a minimum of just less than eight years (Telegraph, 7
November 2009). His minimum term has been reduced to seven years on
appeal (Bath Chronicle, 24 May 2010).
Get Reading, 21 September 2009
Clive Adams is due to be
sentenced after admitting one count of robbery and one of possession of a
gun following a robbery at a convenience store in Tilehurst,
Berkshire. His co-defendant was acquitted.
Get Bracknell, 21 September 2009
Two cars were damaged as they
were being driven along the same road in Warfield, Berkshire.
Police think the damage to both cars was caused by pellets from an
air weapon. After the first
incident the driver saw two boys, aged about 11 or 12, running away.
Express & Star, 21 September 2009
Two men who posed as police
officers, one of whom then brandished a handgun, stole cash from the safe
of a petrol station in Bilston, West Midlands. They also took
£15,000 of cigarettes.
BBC, 21 September 2009 *
A man was shot during a party
at a club in Brierley Hill, West Midlands. He received
treatment to a wound to his leg and was later released. A man has
been charged with possession of a firearm with intent to commit an
indictable offence, wounding and possession of a controlled drug (BBC,
6 November 2009).
The Argus, 21 September 2009
Two paramedics called to a
house in Worthing, West Sussex, after reports that a man had fallen
found him sitting in his wheelchair, demanding morphine for a headache.
One of the paramedics noticed a gun lying on a radiator moments before a
second gun was pointed at him. He tackled and disarmed the gunman
and called the police. Both guns were discovered to be fake.
Ian Wilson was found guilty of possession of an
imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of unlawful
violence and jailed for four years. The paramedic, Garry Perkins,
was awarded £400 for his bravery.
BBC, 20 September 2009
Three shots were fired at a
house in West Derby, Liverpool. The house was unoccupied at
the time of the shooting. It is believed that the gunmen were on a
scrambler bike (Liverpool Echo, 23 September 2009).
BBC, 20 September 2009 *
A taxi driver found dead in
the boot of his vehicle at Cromford railway station in Derbyshire
had been beaten and shot. A man has been charged with murder (BBC,
1 October 2009). Another man has been charged with firearms offences
(BBC, 11 October 2009). A man has been jailed for life after being
found guilty of murder (see
July 2010 Incidents).
BBC, 19 September 2009 *
A man has died in hospital
after he was shot in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The victim
opened the door to his home after hearing a disturbance outside and was
shot at three times. Two men have been arrested (BBC, 20
September 2009). It is understood that the police are investigating
whether the murder is linked to two other recent fatal shootings in
Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News, 21 September 2009).
Two brothers have both received life sentences for the murder (see
March 2010 Incidents).
Enfield Independent, 18 September 2009
Two brothers from Edmonton,
north London, held up 11 bookmakers across north London and
Hertfordshire. They pointed handguns at staff and customers.
They pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery, two counts of attempted
robbery and five counts of possessing a firearm or imitation firearm with
intent to commit robbery. Nelson Muzinga asked for a further three
counts of robbery to be taken into account and three counts of possessing
an imitation firearm with intent to
rob. Ivo Muzinga asked for a further five counts of robbery to be
taken into account and five further counts of possessing an
imitation firearm with intent to rob.
Both men were jailed for six years (Enfield Independent, 2 October
2009).
Citizen (Gloucester), 18 September 2009
A 10-year-old boy has been
assaulted with a BB gun while playing
in the park in Gloucester. He and his cousin were approached
by older youths who asked to use their football and when they refused one
of the youths fired the gun.
BBC, 18 September 2009 *
A shop worker was critically
injured when he was shot during a robbery at a cash-and-carry in
Croydon, south London. He challenged a group of masked men
stealing jewellery from cabinets. The victim was shot in the chest
at close range. The weapon is reported to have been a
shotgun. A man has been charged
with conspiracy to rob, robbery and possessing a gun and a woman has been
charged with conspiracy to rob (Press Association, 15 October
2009).
BBC, 18 September 2009
PC
David Micklethwaite, a firearms instructor, shot a civilian worker during a training exercise at
Thames Valley Police Headquarters North in Kidlington, Oxfordshire,
in May 2007 (see Incidents). The victim was shot in the stomach at
point blank range with a Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum revolver while he was
listening to a lecture. PC Micklethwaite has pleaded guilty to
breaching health and safety rules. Thames Valley Police has been
fined £40,000 for breaching health and safety laws (BBC, 24
September 2009).
This is Wiltshire, 17 September 2009
A ground worker who in 2008
confronted a man armed with what looked like a handgun during an incident
at a pub in Devizes, Wiltshire, took him outside, removed his
weapon and waited until police arrived has received a commendation from
senior officers. Matthew Smith was told that his actions were
"absolutely outstanding. This was a brave and courageous act".
In November 2008 Tim Coombes pleaded guilty to possession of a
ball-bearing gun and was given a 12-month
conditional discharge.
Morpeth Herald, 17 September 2009
In May 2009 Philip Walton made
a 999 call saying he had a gun and was going to kill himself. He was
then involved in a six-hour siege with armed police at his home in
Cresswell, Northumberland, during which he was seen wandering the
rooms of his house naked and brandishing a rifle, which police only
realised later was a .22 air rifle
when they heard shots. Walton suffered only superficial wounds.
He has admitted possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear and been
jailed for 21 months.
Kent Online, 17 September 2009
A depressed man deliberately
brandished a gun at a police officer in the hope he would himself be
killed, a court has heard. James Miles was armed with a knife and an
airgun after he had been drinking
heavily and had an argument with his girlfriend. The incident took
place in Tenterden, Kent, in May 2009 (see
Incidents). The police officer
tackled Miles and kicked the gun away. Miles admitted possessing a
firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, having a bladed article and
damaging property.
Bridlington Free Press,
17 September 2009
The window of a care home in
Bridlington, East Yorkshire, was damaged by a suspected
airgun shot.
This is Scunthorpe,
16 September 2009
A man has been charged in
connection with an armed robbery in Scunthorpe, South Humberside,
in which the shopkeeper was threatened with an
imitation firearm.
This is Derbyshire,
16 September 2009
A man was confronted on a
canal towpath in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, by two men on bicycles
armed with a stun gun. He was
made to hand over his wallet containing £90. This is the third
recent robbery in Derbyshire involving a stun gun.
Telegraph & Argus,
16 September 2009
A man with a handgun pointed
the weapon at a female debt collector on an estate in Buttershaw,
Bradford. He and another man took the victim's car keys and drove
off in the vehicle.
Melton Times,
16 September 2009 *
A sniper armed with an
air rifle caused panic at a toddler's
birthday party in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. The culprit
fired at a group of children on a trampoline. Shots ripped
through the trampoline hitting a 3-year-old girl on the inner thigh
causing her to bleed. Two 2-year-old boys were also hit in the chest
leaving red wounds. Two pellets were found. Two teenagers
have been cautioned by police, and a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old have
each been made subject of six-month supervision orders. The
17-year-old has also been given an 18-month community rehabilitation order
and has a three-month curfew (see
February 2010 Incidents).
Manchester Evening
News,
16 September 2009 *
Three men have been cleared of
firearms charges after the death of a teenage girl who was hit in the eye
with an airgun pellet in Bury
in December 2008 (see Incidents).
They had been charged with possessing a firearm without a licence but the
prosecution offered no evidence after detailed ballistic tests and
examination showed that the .22 airgun did not require a licence.
The three men were all friends of the victim. A coroner has ruled
that the death was accidental (see
November 2009 Incidents).
Herald Express,
16 September 2009
A man was shot in the stomach
with an air rifle as he attended a
party in Torquay, Devon. He was able to pull the pellet from
his wound but suffered blood loss, although he did not go to hospital.
He saw his attackers fire their weapon several times from a nearby flat.
The victim was not happy with the police response which took over half an
hour.
Evening Post
(Bristol),
16 September 2009
One of two brothers involved
in a fight in Bristol in July 2009 has been charged with possession
of an imitation firearm.
He was found with a grey handgun and a large knife, his brother
with two knives, and his brother has been jailed.
Birmingham Mail,
16 September 2009
A road in Bordesley,
Birmingham, was closed by police after reports that shots were fired.
No injuries were reported.
BBC,
16 September 2009
Three roads in Camberley,
Surrey, were closed after police were called to an incident at a flat
which was said to involve firearms. No weapons were discharged.
It was later reported that the two men, who had pushed their way into a
flat, did not have guns (BBC, 18 September 2009).
BBC,
16 September 2009
A 15-year-old boy is in a
serious condition in hospital after he was shot in the back with a
shotgun in Wandsworth, south-west
London. Another victim of the attack, aged 16, received a minor
wound to his foot.
West Sussex Gazette,
15 September 2009
A loaded handgun, probably a
World War II Luger pistol, was found in the River Adur at Shoreham,
West Sussex, whilst a man and his children were crabbing. The gun's
origins are being checked.
Weston & Somerset
Mercury,
15 September 2009
Jay Scott was arrested by an
off-duty police officer when he was brandishing an
air rifle in woodland near
Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. He claimed he didn't know it was
illegal to use an air rifle in the woods. He had bought the gun in
the search for a new hobby. He pleaded guilty to possessing the gun
in a public place. He was given a 12-week prison sentence suspended
for 15 months and ordered to pay costs.
This is Derbyshire,
15 September 2009
A robber used a
stun gun-type weapon to threaten staff at
a shop in Derby. He was handed cash and then ran away.
It is thought no-one was injured.
Surrey Herald,
15 September 2009
Two men have been arrested,
one for affray and possession of a ball bearing
gun, believed to be used for intimidation, and the other for
possession of a samurai sword in Walton, Surrey, after what is
believed to have been a drinking session.
Northampton Chronicle
& Echo,
15 September 2009
A shop worker at a
Northampton holiday park was threatened by a robber who put a handgun
to his head and said he would "blow his head off". The victim was
forced to hand over £150 before the robber ran off.
Northampton Chronicle
& Echo,
15 September 2009 *
A man threatened staff at a
supermarket in Kettering, Northamptonshire, with a double-barrelled shotgun. One man
was hit with the barrel of the gun, but he and two other staff members
managed to push the robber through the door. The man then returned
armed with a samurai sword and helped himself to cigarettes and alcohol
whilst the staff locked themselves in a warehouse. The staff have received bravery awards (Evening
Telegraph (Northamptonshire), 1 February 2010). Two men have
each been jailed for seven years. The gun was an
imitation weapon (see
March 2010 Incidents).
Newham Recorder,
15 September 2009 *
A man has been accused of
holding up a security van in Ilford, east London, in June 2009 and
stealing £9,000. He and another man are said to have brandished an
imitation handgun at a security guard.
He has denied robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent
to cause fear or violence. A man has been jailed for seven years
(see February 2010 Incidents).
Local Guardian,
15 September 2009
In a fourth gun incident in
Battersea, south London, in a week a man tried to shoot a gun in a
street as he was riding on the back of a motorbike.
Lancashire Evening
Post,
15 September 2009
A man from Ribbleton,
Preston, has been charged with possession of a handgun and possessing a
gun when prohibited from doing so for five years.
Ilford Recorder,
15 September 2009
Police were called after shots
were fired in a street in Gants Hill, east London. A car
sustained gunshot damage.
Evening Star,
15 September 2009
Vandals believed to have been
armed with a high-powered air rifle
shot at the Coastwatch station in Felixstowe, Suffolk. A hole
was discovered in the main window of the centre.
Chorley Guardian,
15 September 2009
Three teenagers have been
charged in connection with an alleged brawl involving an
imitation firearm in Chorley,
Lancashire. Two of them were charged with possession of an imitation
firearm with intention to cause fear of violence.
Burton Mail,
15 September 2009 *
Douglas Haw from Burton,
Staffordshire, has admitted possessing an
imitation handgun with intent to cause three men to fear that
unlawful violence would take place. He also pleaded guilty to
possessing a Japanese martial arts weapon. He has been jailed for 18
months (Burton Mail, 15 November 2009).
Wandsworth Guardian,
14 September 2009
A man was shot in the leg in
Tooting, south London. He made his way to hospital where
staff alerted the police.
Telegraph & Argus,
14 September 2009
Shots were fired from a car as
it pursued another vehicle through streets in West Bowling,
Bradford. The back window of a car was shattered by one blast from a
shotgun but its occupant escaped
injury.
Telegraph & Argus,
14 September 2009
Three men staged an armed
robbery on a betting shop in Bradford. The men, who were
brandishing a knife and a gun, made threats to staff and escaped with a
quantity of cash.
News Guardian,
14 September 2009
A taxi driver sustained a
broken nose and cracked ribs after he was robbed of cash by three
passengers in Walker, Tyneside. During the robbery he was
threatened with what is believed to be a firearm.
Melton Times,
14 September 2009
Marion Mucha brandished a
knife in front of a motorist and then drunkenly waved a
toy gun at police in Melton Mowbray,
Leicestershire, in August 2008. He admitted affray and possession of an
imitation firearm and was given a suspended 51-week jail term with
supervision.
Liverpool Echo,
14 September 2009
A man walked into a pub in
Fazakerley, Liverpool, pulled out a revolver, shouted something and
shot himself. Police confirmed a fatality which is being
investigated as an "unexplained death".
Liverpool Echo,
14 September 2009
Shots were fired at four
people in a car in Everton, Merseyside. They came from
another car. No one was injured.
Herald (Plymouth),
14 September 2009
A man from Plymouth has
been accused of false imprisonment of a woman, possession of drugs with
intent to supply, possession of criminal property (cash), possession of a
stun gun, possession of a
double-barrelled shotgun without a
certificate, possession of a shot-barrelled handgun, possession of a
handgun with intent to cause fear to a woman, possession of 9mm rounds of
ammunition without a firearms certificate, possession of a shotgun while
prohibited.
Chester Chronicle,
14 September 2009
A man armed with an
imitation firearm stole cash from a shop
in Hoole, Chester. The two workers were not injured, but were
left in shock.
Birmingham Mail,
14 September 2009
Brothers Sharif Ali, from
Alum Rock, and Nazket Ali, from Erdington, pistol-whipped their
brother-in-law before robbing him of his taxi. The attack following
a domestic dispute. They were both convicted of robbery and
possessing an imitation firearm and
jailed for eight years. Nazket Ali was also admitted producing
cannabis.
Birmingham Mail,
14 September 2009 *
Two men were under guard in
hospital after being shot at a private party in Balsall Heath,
Birmingham. One of the victims was found inside the venue and the
second man turned up at hospital. Their injuries are not
life-threatening. A man has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and
firearms offences and been jailed for 16 years (see
May 2010 Incidents).
Times,
12 September 2009 *
David Hampson was described by
a judge as a "dealer in death" when he was jailed for 20 years after
pleading guilty to a number of charges of conspiring to supply guns and
ammunition. He had transformed the kitchen in his home in Huyton,
Merseyside, into a workshop where he could manufacture weapons. He
could transform a replica firearm into
a handgun in 20 minutes, and his speciality was converting miniature
torches into single-shot weapons. Hampson would buy up replica
firearms and starting pistols from army supplies stores. Other
members of the gang were jailed, Thomas March for 30 months after being
convicted of conspiring to supply ammunition and firearms and Neil Perry
and Martin Pearson, who admitted the same charges, for five and seven
years, respectively. Dean Gerrard will be sentenced later.
Hampson has failed to have his sentence cut after an appeal (Liverpool
Echo, 12 May 2010).
Oxford Mail,
12 September 2009
Jamie-Lee Rowland from
Oxford, one of two women who pleaded guilty to and were jailed for
jointly conspiring to manage a network of eight brothels, was sentenced to
a further 18 months for the possession of a stun
gun and a knife.
Harrow Times,
12 September 2009 *
John Laslett and James Murphy
have been sentenced to three years and 18 months imprisonment,
respectively, following a series of armed robberies on bookmakers in north
west London in March 2009. The premises were in Harrow,
Edgware, Colindale,
Mill Hill and Burnt Oak. Laslett pleaded guilty to nine
offences of robbery and one offence of possession of an
imitation firearm with intent to commit
robbery and Murphy pleaded guilty to one offence of robbery.
Laslett's sentence, which was indefinite, has been changed on appeal to a
conventional six-year sentence meaning he will qualify for release in
three years (Harrow Times, 10 February 2010).
BBC,
12 September 2009
Five teenagers, aged between 16
and 19, suffered gunshot wounds in a incident in Tottenham,
north London, in which another victim was stabbed. None of the victims have life-threatening injuries.
Five people, including one of those shot, have been detained by police.
Wandsworth Guardian,
11 September 2009
A man is recovering after
being shot in the shoulder in Southfields, south London. His
injuries were described as non life-threatening.
Wandsworth Guardian,
11 September 2009
In a third shooting in
Battersea, south London, in just 24 hours a woman found marks made by
shotgun pellets in her front door.
Get Wokingham,
11 September 2009 *
A man was shot four times
after an incident at a mobile home park in Crowthorne, Berkshire.
The victim is in a stable condition in hospital. The police have
described the incident as a family dispute that got out of hand (BBC,
11 September 2009). A man has been convicted of attempted murder
(see May 2010 Incidents).
Gazette
(Blackpool),
11 September 2009
Six youths went to a
park in Blackpool, Lancashire, armed with
ball bearing guns and targeted half a dozen children, aged
between two and 13, who were playing there. One boy was hit in the
leg with a pellet. Their mothers called 999 but the operator refused
to send a patrol car. The families later received an apology from
the police. Two 13-year-old boys and one 12-year-old have been given
youth referral orders and a number of BB guns have been confiscated.
Bucks Herald,
11 September 2009
Thieves stole three
shotguns from a house in Chinnor,
Oxfordshire. They removed a gun safe containing the guns as well as
another safe containing a substantial amount of cash. Both safes
were later found dumped and empty in Princes Risborough,
Buckinghamshire.
Bolton News,
11 September 2009
An
air pistol was among items stolen from the boot of a car in
Bolton, Lancashire. The police are concerned that the weapon,
which looks like a silver handgun could be used in more serious crimes and
could cause injury if it is fired.
Bexhill-on-Sea
Observer,
11 September 2009
A man has been charged with
possessing an unloaded air weapon in a
public place. He is alleged to have been carrying the weapon on a
footbridge in Polegate, East Sussex.
Wandsworth Guardian,
10 September 2009
Two men were being treated for
serious injuries after shooting incidents in Battersea, south
London. Police were called to reports of shots being fired in a
street and discovered a man with stab wounds but did not find anyone with
gunshot injuries. A short while later armed police surrounded a van
and a man was pulled from the vehicle. He had been shot in the leg
and there was gunshot damage to the van. The police have not
confirmed whether the incidents were linked. Five youths have been
arrested and bailed.
Tottenham, Wood Green
& Edmonton Journal,
10 September 2009
Two men threatened staff at a
bookmakers in Hornsey, north London, with a gun and made off with
an undisclosed sum of cash.
Swindon Advertiser,
10 September 2009 *
More than 40 people were
evacuated from a council building in Swindon, Wiltshire, after a
man allegedly entered the building with a replica
firearm. Police were called when someone spotted the
weapon. A man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm in a
public place but will not be facing further police action (Swindon
Advertiser, 26 October 2009).
Manchester Evening
News,
10 September 2009
Two masked men who threatened
a worker in a cafe in Chadderton, Greater Manchester, with a
handgun, walked away empty-handed after they couldn't open the till.
Hounslow Chronicle,
10 September 2009
An 18-year-old boy has been
charged with GBH with intent and possession of an
imitation firearm with intent to cause fear and violence.
The charges arise from an attack on a teenage girl in Chiswick,
west London. The girl's injuries may have been caused by a gun.
Guardian (Epping
Forest, Waltham Forest, Wanstead & Woodford),
10 September 2009
Two police officers have been
commended for stopping a man who walked into the police station in
Woodford, Essex, from hurting himself and others with a kitchen knife
and an airgun in June 2009. The
man was later arrested and found guilty of possessing an air weapon and
possessing a knife.
Get Reading,
10 September 2009
A 15-year-old boy has been
cautioned for possession of an imitation firearm
in Whitley, Berkshire, and being discovered with a firearm by
police in June 2009.
Express & Echo,
10 September 2009
A man is understood to be
recovering in hospital after shooting himself in the chest and shoulder in
his home in Pennsylvania, Exeter. He was putting his rifle
back in its gun cabinet after returning from hunting when he leant over
the weapon and it discharged.
Birmingham Mail,
10 September 2009
Three men from the
Birmingham area have been charged with possession of a firearm with
intent to cause fear of violence and possession of a prohibited weapon
after police found a loaded sawn-off shotgun
in a car.
BBC,
10 September 2009
Two men armed with what
appeared to be a handgun robbed a bank in Melbourne, Derbyshire.
No-one was injured.
BBC,
10 September 2009
A man from Golders Green,
north London, faces a charge of possessing a prohibited firearm and
ammunition as well as other charges after police searched thousands of
safety deposit boxes. Two other directors of the same safety deposit
box company also face various charges.
BBC,
10 September 2009
A firearm was seized during a
series of raids by the police targeting an organised crime group.
The raids were made on properties in Luton and Leighton Buzzard
in Bedfordshire, Bletchley in Buckinghamshire and Stevenage
in Hertfordshire.
Worcester News,
9 September 2009
A man drunkenly pointed an
air rifle at his partner's chest and
threatened to shoot her at their home in Worcester. Eric
Steventon admitted making threats to kill. He was sentenced to 16
weeks in custody, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 60
hours unpaid work. An order was made for the forfeiture and
destruction of the gun.
Willesden & Brent
Times,
9 September 2009
A 19-year-old has been
sentenced to two years after she hid a gun for a man whom she has refused
to name. A 9mm revolver was found at the home of Jodie Collins in
Cricklewood, north west London, in September 2008. She is one of
11 women who have been caught hiding a gun for a man in London since April
2008 (Kilburn Times, 2 October 2009).
This is Gloucestershire, 9 September 2009
A woman, who was walking her
dog in Cheltenham, was hit in the leg by a pellet from what is
believed to have been a ball-bearing gun.
The Star, 9 September 2009
A court has heard that a woman
was shot at "point blank" range with a
double-barrelled shotgun by her partner at their home in
Thorne, South Yorkshire, in March 2009 (see
Incidents). The victim was shot
after a heated argument over money. The defendant stored a number of
legally-owned weapons in a gun cabinet, but an earlier visitor had seen a
shotgun propped up next to the hi-fi and witnessed the defendant running
out into the garden to shoot a magpie. The witness is quoted as
saying "He always sits on the settee with the gun at arm's reach away.
The gun was loaded to pounce on a cat that had been coming into the
garden". Derek Harriman has been found guilty of murder and
been ordered to serve a minimum of 21 years in jail (The Star, 15
September 2009).
Bexley Times, 9 September 2009
*
Gary Oxley shot and killed a
man at point blank range with a vintage .455 Webley revolver in a cafe in
Mottingham, south London, in March 2009 (see
Incidents). He has pleaded guilty
to murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
He has been jailed for a minimum for 21 years (BBC, 12 October
2009).
BBC, 9 September 2009
*
A man, the victim of what
police have described as a "brutal execution-style murder", is believed to
have been shot dead in a lay-by in Clayton West, Huddersfield in
West Yorkshire. A post-mortem confirmed he had died from
shotgun wounds (BBC, 10
September). Two men, one of whom was the victim's lover, have been
found guilty of murder (see May
2010 Incidents).
Wandsworth Guardian,
8 September 2009
Shots were fired after an
alleged security van robbery in Battersea, south London.
Police were unable to confirm whether anything was stolen.
Hull Daily Mail,
8 September 2009
A man has been cleared of
involvement in an armed robbery at houses in Beverley, East
Yorkshire, in January 2009. The owner has described how four men
entered his home and one of them threatened him with a gun, saying he
would shoot him. The men took £25 and a laptop. The victim was
then marched at gunpoint to a neighbour where the gang gained entry and
attacked the people inside. The men responsible remain at large.
Derby Evening
Telegraph,
8 September 2009 *
A man walked into a newsagents
in Sandiacre, Derbyshire, with a weapon described as a "stun
gun" and demanded cash. He was given a small amount and
ran off. Two men have been jailed for this and seven other robberies
(see May 2010 Incidents).
BBC,
8 September 2009
Ricardo Poli, 18, from
Timperley, Cheshire, who has pleaded guilty to charges relating to
capturing and assaulting two teenage boys has also admitted possessing a
firearm after being stopped in a car with a
sawn-off shotgun in May 2008. He was sentenced to three
years for the firearms offences and a total of 16 months for the other
offences.
Telegraph,
7 September 2009
A gang from Parson Cross,
Sheffield, showed off guns and knives on social networking sites after
some of its members were convicted for a teenager's murder. Police
were able to use the photographs as evidence against four further members
for firearms offences. Joe Brent-Mitchell and Jamie Howden, 18, were
each jailed for four-and-a-half years after they posed with the same
shotgun. Both admitted possessing a
firearm after experts confirmed the weapon could not have been an
imitation. Lewis Barker, 17, and David Faulkner was jailed for three
years and two years, respectively, for possessing a
sawn-off shotgun in an unrelated
incident.
Get Reading,
7 September 2009 *
A man was robbed of cash
during a robbery at a community centre in Calcot, Berkshire.
Two men have been charged with robbery and possession of an
imitation firearm. A third man
was arrested and has been bailed. Three men have appeared in court
and denied robbing a man at gunpoint. They also deny in relation to
the robbery possession of an imitation pistol (Reading Post, 24
December 2009). The three were convicted of one count of robbery but
were acquitted of one count each of possession an imitation firearm (Reading
Post, 28 April 2010).
Chad,
7 September 2009 *
A man from Mansfield,
Nottinghamshire, has appeared in court charged with possession of an
imitation firearm, a BB gun, with
intent to cause fear of violence. He has been jailed for nine months
(see January 2010 Incidents).
BBC,
7 September 2009
A man was threatened with his
own air rifle when three men broke
into his flat in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. The men took
the gun along with two DVD players and a small safe.
BBC,
7 September 2009
Police firearms officers went
to a bowling alley in Ipswich after a report of a man wielding a
handgun. A BB gun was seized and
a 19-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm
with intent to cause fear of violence.
BBC,
7 September 2009
A teenager was taken to
hospital after being shot in the leg in a drive-by shooting in Small
Heath, Birmingham. He was said to be in a stable condition.
BBC,
7 September 2009 *
A man who was shot in a street
in Hackney, east London, has died in hospital. An 18-year-old
and a 17-year-old have been accused of murder. Two other men were
arrested and are currently on bail (Epping Forest, Waltham Forest,
Wanstead & Woodford Guardian, 21 September 2009). Three
teenagers are on trial and deny charges of murder and possessing a firearm
with intent to endanger life (BBC, 2 June 2010). All three
have been found guilty (see
July 2010 Incidents).
BBC,
7 September 2009
Two men have been charged with
attempted murder after an incident in which a gun was fired in
Leicester. No-one was injured in the incident.
This is Local London,
5 September 2009
A man was shot twice in the
leg at an address on an estate in Roehampton, south west London.
A group of people wielding a shotgun confronted the victim at his front
door. His injuries were considered "not serious" according to the
police.
Evening Gazette,
5 September 2009
Police have been granted a
dispersal order in a bid to crack down on drunken gangs and vandalism in
the North Ormesby and Brambles Farm areas of Middlesbrough.
Among the incidents a BB gun has been
fired at a car.
Western Morning News,
4 September 2009 *
A gunshot was fired through
the letterbox at the home of a newspaper columnist near Brushford,
Somerset. She was out at the time of the incident but a friend was
at home. The owner had provoked criticism about her portrayal of
local people in her columns and a book. A
shotgun was used in the attack (Daily Mail, 7 September
2009). A group of teenagers know as "the four musketeers" have
claimed responsibility for the attack (Western Morning News, 26
October 2009).
Hartlepool Mail,
4 September 2009
Jamie Turner, 18, and Jonathan
Weegram, 19, have each been fined £65 and had their
air rifle destroyed after using it to
shoot cans on wasteland in Hartlepool in August 2009. Both
had previous convictions. They both admitted having a weapon in a
public place.
Get Reading,
4 September 2009
A
replica blank-firing pistol and a large quantity of drugs were
discovered during a routine house call in Lower Caversham,
Berkshire. No one has yet been arrested.
The Citizen
(Burnley),
4 September 2009
Shop assistants at a store in
Burnley, Lancashire, were threatened by two men armed with a
double-barrelled shotgun before £500 in
cash was stolen. Two people have since been arrested, one of whom, a
teenager, was still being questioned by police.
Bury Times, 4 September 2009
Two men burst into a
bookmakers in Bury, Greater Manchester, pointed a
shotgun at staff and demanded cash.
After the cash was handed over they ran off.
Birmingham Mail, 4 September 2009
Four men have been jailed for between six and eight years for their part
in a series of raids on stores in Birmingham, Quinton, Handsworth and
Hamstead in the West Midlands between January and May 2008. One
supermarket was raided three times and another twice. In each case
the robbers were armed with a stun gun,
hammers and knives. Jahmine Lee, Andrew Lee and Patrick Green
pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob. Nyah Williams was found guilty
of robbery at a fast food restaurant in Telford, Shropshire, as
were two other men Ojay Miller, 19, and Valtie Dixon who await sentencing.
BBC,
4 September 2009 *
Three men have been found guilty
for their involvement in the kidnap and false imprisonment of two shopworkers for over a week
at an address in Plumstead, south east London, whilst demanding a ransom of £75,000. The gang committed a violent
robbery at a sports shop in West London in August 2008 and took the
victims at gunpoint. Vergil Percival was found guilty of kidnap and
one count of blackmail, Jason Goode of false imprisonment and Thijseen
Johns-Elliot of false imprisonment and blackmail. Joseph Hadji, Ashanti Kumpati and Paul Wigan had
already pleaded guilty to playing a role in the plot. Percival has
been jailed indefinitely, the others have received sentences of between
six years and ten years (BBC, 12 October 2009).
BBC, 4 September 2009
A man has been shot in a
street in Birmingham. There are believed to have been two
offenders who left the scene in a car which was involved in a minor
collision. The victim was being treated in hospital where he
remained in a stable condition. Two men have been arrested on
suspicion of attempted murder (BBC, 8 September 2009).
Tottenham, Wood Green
& Edmonton Journal,
3 September 2009 *
A man armed with a gun has
threatened a number of people in streets in Wood Green, north
London, and forced them to hand over their jewellery and wallets. At
least three incidents have been reported. A man is due to appear in
court charged with seven counts of robbery, one count of attempted
robbery, and seven counts of possessing an
imitation firearm with intent to commit a crime (Haringey
Independent, 21 September 2009). He has admitted the offences
and is expected to be jailed (see
February 2010 Incidents).
Times & Star,
3 September 2009 *
A teenager who is reported to
have brandished a replica firearm has
appeared in court charged with robbery after another teenager had her
handbag stolen from her tent at a music festival near Aspatria,
Cumbria. The man was one of eight arrested following an allegation
of robbery. An 18-year-old has admitted robbery and possession of a
firearm with intent to cause violence (see
November 2009 Incidents).
This is Surrey Today,
3 September 2009
A BB
gun or a slingshot may have been used in an attack which
shattered the front door windows of a house in Dorking, Surrey.
A teenager has been released on police bail in connection with two
incidents of criminal damage in the area.
This is Local London,
3 September 2009
Daniel Odoi-Asare from
Pinner, north west London, is due to be sentenced on two counts of
robbery and two of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to
commit an indictable offence. He had a BB
gun when he stole a car and a sat nav in two separate
incidents. He has been sentenced to six years in a detention centre
(Harrow Observer, 10 September 2009).
Streatham Guardian,
3 September 2009
Residents on an estate in
Tulse Hill, south London, have witnessed three shooting incidents in
the past two months and have called for CCTV to crackdown on clashed
between gangs. In January 2009 two teenagers were shot, one with a
shotgun, and in the most recent
incident a car sustained gunshot damage.
Streatham Guardian,
3 September 2009 *
A man has been shot dead at a
house in West Norwood, south London. Police have launched a
murder inquiry. A man has been questioned by police and released on
bail pending further inquiries (BBC, 28 October 2009).
Another man was arrested in Colchester, Essex, in connection with the
murder (Daily Gazette, 26 November 2009). A man has now been
charged with murder (BBC, 17 March 2010).
Daily Echo,
3 September 2009
Peter Batke pointed an
imitation firearm at the owner of a store and post office in Bearwood,
Dorset, when he stole over £200 from the till. Before the incident
in January 2009 he had bought an orange
blank-firing pistol from a local shop which he spray-painted
black. The gun was found in the boot of his car. He has been
sentenced to three years in jail.
The Citizen
(Burnley),
3 September 2009
Imitation guns, including replica Heckler and Koch MP5s and
G35s, have been confiscated by police who swooped on two shops and a market
stall in Burnley, Lancashire. The police said that they could
easily have been mistaken for genuine firearms and were removed by them
using powers under the Violent Crime Reduction Act. The guns sold
for between £5 and £20.
Whitchurch Herald,
2 September 2009
A man has been arrested on
suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm after a teenage girl
was allegedly shot with an air rifle
in Whitchurch, Shropshire. She heard a loud bang as she
walked past two males. She suffered a puncture wound to her right
forearm.
Streatham Guardian,
2 September 2009 *
A man was shot with a
BB gun outside a nightclub in
Crystal Palace, south London. Police were called after reports
of a disturbance. The victim was taken to hospital with non-life
threatening injuries. A man has been jailed for eight years (see
April 2010 Incidents).
Guardian,
2 September 2009
An
imitation firearm, described as a 9mm machine gun that fires
ball-bearings, was found in the bedroom of one of the two teenagers who
are on trial for plotting to bomb a school in Manchester.
BBC,
2 September 2009
Craig Townend was one of two
men who raided the home of a stamp dealer in Torquay, Devon, in
July 2009 (see Incidents).
The pair threatened the dealer and then tied him up together with his two
sons before stealing £400,000 worth of stamps. He has been found
guilty of armed robbery, possessing a firearm with intent to commit
robbery and three charges of false imprisonment. His accomplice has
not been found. Sentencing was adjourned. Townend, who had
been jailed in 2000 for stealing paintings in York whilst armed
with a sawn-off shotgun, was on parole
at the time of the offence (Guardian, 3 September 2009). He
has been given a life sentence and will serve at least 10 years (BBC,
16 September 2009).
BBC,
2 September 2009
A 16-year-old has been hurt in
a shooting incident in Bell Green, Coventry. He was in a
stable condition in hospital after being shot in the neck.
BBC,
2 September 2009
Two robbers armed with guns
attempted to rob a restaurant at a service area at Horton Cross,
Ilminster in Somerset. They threatened staff and demanded keys for
the safe but left the restaurant when they were told that the staff did
not have the keys.
BBC,
2 September 2009 *
A man has been shot and killed
in Luton, Bedfordshire. He was found lying in a street with
injuries to his head and later died in hospital. He was apparently
trying to escape from his attackers when he was shot with a single bullet
(BBC, 3 September 2009). It was been revealed that he was
carrying out a drug deal when he was killed (Independent, 9
September 2009). Two teenagers, one of whom was 17 at the time of
the murder, are on trial accused of murder. One of them has admitted
possessing ammunition and the other has pleaded guilty to possessing a
prohibited weapon and two charges of possessing ammunition (BBC, 11
May 2010). Both have been convicted of murder (see
June 2010 Incidents).
Sunday Sun,
1 September 2009 *
Two intruders forced their way
into a supermarket in Benton, Tyneside. They were armed with
a machete and a shotgun. They
grabbed some tills and made off from the store. Two men have been
charged with robbing this and four more supermarkets and with burgling six
others from November 2008 to May 2009 (BBC, 25 November 2009).
Both men admitted a number of robberies and burglaries (see
March 2010 Incidents).
Scunthorpe Telegraph,
1 September 2009
Vandals have caused £450
damage to windows of a charity base in Scunthorpe, Humberside.
The damage was inflicted with an airgun.
Oxford Times,
1 September 2009
A
ball bearing gun was among items confiscated from away football
supporters at Oxford United's home game with Forest Green Rovers.
According to the police "the gun wasn't on display or being used so there
wasn't a possession of an imitation firearm offence".
BBC,
1 September 2009
A 19-year-old man from
Blackbird Leys, Oxford, was arrested after being seen brandishing the
weapon at members of the public and was charged with possessing a
Taser-style weapon.
BBC,
1 September 2009
A robber threatened his
landlady in Hove, Sussex, with a gun before escaping with £200 in
cash. The man is believed to have carried out five other armed
robberies in Sussex, on newsagents and a bureau de change in Brighton
(see August 2009 Incidents)
and a clothing shop in Haywards Heath, and a victim was robbed in
Crawley. Police found a replica
handgun at the premises of the latest robbery. A man has
been charged with six robberies (BBC, 2 September 2009).
SCOTLAND
BBC, 28 September 2009
Ian Holland admitted using a
stun gun to beat his victim during a
street robbery in Glasgow in September 2008. An accomplice
stabbed the victim. Holland has been jailed for five-and-a-half
years.
Evening Times, 25 September 2009
A gun is believed to have been
found during dawn raids in Cardonald, Glasgow, in which £30,000 of
drugs were seized.
Ayrshire Post, 25 September 2009
A man and a woman face charges
in relation to an incident in Ayr where armed response units
swooped after claims a man had a gun. The man was charged with
possession of a firearm.
Evening Times, 24 September 2009
A woman travelled 200 miles to
"harm" her estranged husband with a toy gun
in June 2009. Police were alerted and she was detained at a bus
station in Glasgow. Ann Gibson admitted to possession of an
imitation firearm and a charge of possessing such an item with intent to
commit assault. She is awaiting
sentence. She had been jailed previously in 2006 for stalking her
husband with another replica gun (The Sun, 24 September 2009).
The Sun, 23 September 2009 *
A man was shot in the chest
and abdomen in his flat in Pollok, Glasgow. The victim has
already survived three drive-by shootings and another attack in a park.
His dog was shot dead in the attack. The victim's partner sustained
minor injuries (BBC, 24 September 2009). Three arrests have
been made and the men detained in police custody (BBC, 4 November
2009).
Evening News,
23 September 2009
Ramsay Scott from
Longniddry, East Lothian, used his mother's credit card to buy
prohibited weapons over the internet (see
December 2008 Incidents). He has
been jailed for nearly four years. Ramsay, who had represented
Scotland in their under-19 shooting team, had pleaded guilty to eight
charges.
Cumnock Chronicle,
23 September 2009
An armed police unit responded
to calls from a resident in Bellsbank, Ayrshire, who had spotted
three teenagers holding a gun. The weapon turned out to be a
plastic BB gun.
Paisley Daily Express,
21 September 2009
Robert Murdoch has admitted
conducting himself in a disorderly manner, entering a premises with an
imitation firearm and placing staff and members of the public in a state
of fear and alarm. He strolled into a pharmacy in Paisley
with a fake gun in June 2009. He
claimed he was so "out of it" through substance abuse at the time.
He was jailed for 10 months.
BBC,
16 September 2009
Three men have escaped with
thousands of pounds in cash after an armed robbery at a petrol station in
Braidwood, South Lanarkshire. Two security guards were
threatened by three men with what appeared to be a gun.
Evening Times,
15 September 2009
A woman, who has been forced
to flee her home in Scotstoun, Glasgow, to escape drug-dealing
thugs who were terrorising her family, has told how she found an
airgun and samurai sword hidden in a communal cupboard on the
landing. The claims the weapons were linked to her neighbours.
BBC,
14 September 2009
A gunman is being sought after
the front door of a flat in Dalkeith, Midlothian, was shot at
during the night. Nobody was hurt in the incident which is believed
to have involved a shotgun.
Ayrshire Post,
11 September 2009
Mark Kernaghan raided the post
office in Dundonald, Ayrshire, at gunpoint in August 2008 and stole
£1240. He has admitted robbery and presenting an
imitation firearm.
Barrhead News,
9 September 2009
Grant Finnigan shot a postman
delivering mail to a street in Barrhead, Renfrewshire, in May 2009
(see Incidents).
He has been jailed after pleading guilty to recklessly discharging an
air pistol at another person and striking
his victim on the head with ball bearings to his injury and also admitted
he was in possession of an air pistol and had ball bearing for ammunition.
He will serve three years nine months.
Airdrie & Coatbridge
Advertiser,
9 September 2009
John McKenzie sparked a gun
scare when he was on a drinking binge in Airdrie, Lanarkshire.
He was seen with an air pistol on a
train and in a taxi. On the train he was heard mumbling about
shooting an ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend by another passenger.
He has been jailed for a total of 16 months after admitting two charges of
possessing a firearm with intent to cause someone to believe that unlawful
violence might be used.
Dumbarton Reporter,
8 September 2009
Police swooped on a farmhouse
in Renton, West Dunbartonshire, after reports that a young woman was
being held against her will and that the suspect may be in possession of a
gun. No firearm was discovered, but a man has been charged with
allegedly abducting a woman and assaulting a man.
Ayrshire Post,
4 September 2009
Gary Knox fired a
BB gun at a 14-year-old boy in Cumnock,
Ayrshire. He has admitted assaulting and injuring the boy in March
2009. The gun was not recovered because it didn't belong to him and
was taken away by the owner.
Greenock Telegraph,
3 September 2009
Anthony Hampson from
Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, pointed an airgun
at his chin and threatened to take his own life after being dumped by his
girlfriend in May 2009. Riot police surrounded the house where he
had armed himself with the rifle, CS gas and a machete which he used to
smash furniture. He pleaded guilty to various offences including
pointing the air rifle at himself.
Paisley Daily Express,
2 September 2009
A cache of
air weapons, both rifles and pistols,
were found during a police raid on a property in Houston,
Renfrewshire. The raid is believed to be part of an ongoing
operation by Lothian and Borders police.
WALES
BBC, 28
September 2009 *
A 10-year-old boy has died
after he was shot with an airgun in
Llansamlet, Swansea. The police are not treating the death as
suspicious, but a 12-year-old is helping police inquiries. It was
reported that he was shot in the chest with his father's
air pistol during a game of cowboys and
Indians (Times, 29 September 2009). A coroner has returned a
verdict of accidental death (see
February 2010 Incidents).
Daily Post, 25
September 2009
Three men who barged their way
into a bungalow in Rhyl, Clwyd, terrorised a woman into handing
over keys to a shotgun cabinet before making off with a
shotgun, a gun licence and cartridges.
North Wales Weekly
News, 24 September 2009
Two men armed with guns
sparked a police search after being spotted in the Bryn Euryn Nature
Reserve, Conwy. It is not known whether the guns were restricted
firearms or air rifles. It is
thought the men may have been hunting rabbits, birds and wildlife.
South Wales Argus,
17 September 2009
Grant Shea from Bettws,
Newport, has pleaded guilty to being in possession of rimfire ammunition.
The .22 live rounds were found after police went to his home to
investigate an attempted break in. He was given a 12 month
conditional discharge and fined £100.
Daily Post,
12 September 2009
A couple feared for their
lives when a teenager held a .22 air rifle
to their heads. David Edgerton, 19, put the gun to the cheek of a
man and told him he would shoot him. The incident arose after he was
released from custody for an offence involving the victim's car.
Edgerton of Leeswood, Clwyd, admitted possessing his father's rifle
with intent to cause fear of violence. He received two years youth
custody.
BBC,
11 September 2009 *
Russell Carter has been found
guilty of murdering his boss, whom he throttled, and trying to kill three
other men in Pontypool in October 2008 (see
Incidents). He tied up and gagged
his victims at gunpoint and threw petrol over them. He later claimed
that the weapon was a toy gun (South
Wales Echo, 12 September 2009). After the verdicts the jury was
told that Carter had two convictions for previous violent armed incidents
in the US, where he is in breach of parole, and of which authorities in the
UK were not aware. He has been given a life sentence and will not be
considered for release for at least 30 years (South Wales Argus, 24
October 2009).
South Wales Echo,
7 September 2009
A school bus has been damaged
and will cost £1,000 to repair after its windows were smashed in an
airgun attack whilst it was parked at a
rugby club in Cardiff.
INCIDENTS INVOLVING ANIMALS
This is Local London,
29 September 2009
Two cat owners in Epping,
Essex, have leafleted dozens of their neighbours after a double attack on
their animals. One of their cats was shot with an
air rifle and another of their cats
had been poisoned. Their vet condemned the easy availability of air
rifles.
Runcorn & Widnes World,
26 September 2009
Wild geese are being killed in
gun attacks in Widnes, Cheshire. The latest victim was found
covered in blood with part of its chest and beak blown away by a
shotgun. The RSPCA report other
birds being injured with airguns.
This is Surrey Today,
24 September 2009
A cat has undergone lifesaving
surgery and has had her leg amputated after being shot with an
air rifle in South Nutfield,
Surrey. The pet was found lying in her owners' garden with her front
leg shattered.
Express & Star,
23 September 2009
A swan was attacked by someone
brandishing an airgun who shot it in
the neck in Bilston, West Midlands. It was very ill when
discovered and died after being rushed to the vets.
Evening Star,
23 September 2009
A cat was deliberately shot at
point blank range in an airgun attack
in Hemingstone, Suffolk. The pet has had to have her leg
amputated. A vet discovered that she had been shot in the shoulder.
Darlington & Stockton
Times,
18 September 2009
A protected peregrine falcon
was found wounded on land near Hornby Castle, North Yorkshire.
The bird had been shot with a shotgun
and the pellets had caused infection and damage to the bird's flight
muscles and tendons, leaving it incapable of flight. It was put to
sleep.
Daily Gazette,
16 September 2009
A pensioner's cat was shot
with an airgun through the chest and
then used as a football in an attack in Colchester, Essex.
His injuries were so severe he had to be put to sleep. His owner is
waiting for the vet to provide him with a full report.
Shields Gazette,
14 September 2009
A rare kestrel has been shot
in mid-flight by a BB gun. The
bird was brought in a vets in Hebburn, Tyneside. It was
concluded that it had been shot several days before it was found. It
was treated but it was not possible to operate because of its frightened
and fragile condition.
Lincolnshire Echo,
14 September 2009
A family cat had to be put
down after being shot in the head with an air
rifle in South Clifton, Lincolnshire. He was found
by a neighbour bleeding from a wound near his ear. An x-ray revealed
a pellet lodged in his brain.
This is South Wales,
12 September 2009
A cat shot in the back with a
pellet gun in Landore, Swansea,
may never walk again after the pellet damaged his spine.
Skegness Standard,
9 September 2009
A second cat has been injured
in an airgun shooting in Alford,
Lincolnshire. After almost two months of treatment for a suspected
infection, an x-ray revealed a pellet which has now been removed from his
bladder.
Matlock Mercury,
4 September 2009
A cat has died after being
shot in the head with an air weapon
from close range in Crich, Derbyshire. His condition
deteriorated after being found and he died three hours later.
