DECEMBER 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
Southern Daily Echo,
31 December 2009
A man has escaped with an
unknown amount of cash after holding up a petrol station in Eastleigh,
Hampshire. He threatened the cashier with what appeared to be a
handgun.
Newmarket Journal,
31 December 2009
Keith Thompson was seen with a
gun on a playing field in Newmarket, Suffolk. One witness
described how he heard it being fired. Thompson was arrested and the
gun shown to be a .177 calibre air rifle.
Thompson pleaded guilty to possession of an unloaded air weapon in a
public place. He said he had been shooting on private land with
family members earlier that day, had been drinking and was travelling back
from his sister's home. The sound was of the barrel clicking open.
He was given a 12-month community order to include 40 hours unpaid work.
As part of the order he was banned from carrying an air rifle.
Great Yarmouth Mercury,
31 December 2009
A man from Hemsby,
Norfolk, has appeared before magistrates and denied threatening to shoot
his girlfriend. He is alleged to have called 999 and told an
operator he had a gun.
Echo,
31 December 2009
A man held up a post office in
Rayleigh, Essex, where the staff were threatened with a gun.
A man was arrested a short time later.
BBC,
31 December 2009
Two
air rifles were among items stolen from a farm in Kington,
Worcestershire.
BBC,
31 December 2009 *
A man had his ear bitten by
two men who then produced a gun and fired a shot. No-one was struck
by the bullet. The incident took place outside a house in Norwood,
south London. One man has been arrested in connection with the
attack (Local Guardian, 5 January 2010).
BBC,
31 December 2009
A sandwich bar worker at the
Bluewater shopping centre, Kent, was threatened with a gun by
robbers who fled with more than £20,000. She was made to watch as
the robbers emptied the safe.
BBC,
31 December 2009
A man was shot in the head
with an air rifle as he used a cash
machine in Whalley Range, Greater Manchester. He was shot at
from a nearby block of flats. The victim was taken to hospital where
he had to undergo surgery to remove a pellet. An airgun was seized
from a flat and a man arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily
harm with intent.
Telegraph,
30 December 2009
Roy Bennett, described as a
passionate gun collector, amassed more than 50 guns at his cottage in
Heywood, Greater Manchester. He pleaded guilty to nine firearm
offences. He had firearms licences for some of the rifles but he had
unlicensed rifles, a shotgun and a
home-made cannon. Police had been alerted after he fired the cannon
at a local gun club and found the weapons when they searched his home in
March 2009. He was jailed for five years after the judge said she
could not find exceptional circumstances and applied the minimum sentence.
Newham Recorder,
30 December 2009
Mohammed Waseem pointed an
air pistol at his step-son, telling him
"I'll kill you", as his victim was walking to work in East Ham,
east London, in September 2009. He had bought the weapon the day
before. In threatening his step-son he had broken a court order
banning him from contacting his estranged wife and children. Waseem
has been jailed for 15 months.
Newham Recorder,
30 December 2009
Babar Ali Shah from Forest
Gate, east London, had been convicted of attempted murder and found
guilty of assault and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.
In July 2008 Shah had opened fire on his victim with a
shotgun and shot off his thumb.
Bristol Evening Post,
30 December 2009
A landlord has been refused
permission to re-open his pub in Easton, Bristol, after it was shut
down following a number of incidents including one earlier this month in
which a gun was said to have been displayed.
BBC,
30 December 2009
Three men have been arrested
following an armed robbery at a cash and carry in Duston,
Northampton, during which the manager was threatened by two men, one of
whom had a handgun. The men only took his mobile phone. The
men were arrested after a pursuit along the M1 motorway.
Guardian,
29 December 2009
A 4-year-old girl has been
shot dead and her mother has serious head injuries and is in a critical
condition after a shooting at a house in Aldershot, Hampshire.
A man, believed to be the girl's father, was also found dead with a gun beside him.
The police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the
shootings. The woman died from her injuries a day later (Guardian,
30 December 2009). The weapon is believed to have been a handgun (Times,
31 December 2009).
Evesham Journal,
29 December 2009
Steven Hinton has admitted
possessing a firearm when prohibited as part of the terms of his release
from a prison sentence. He was seen sitting in a bus shelter in
Pershore, Worcestershire, with a .22 air
rifle. A pre-sentence report was ordered. The air
rifle had been bought from a friend at Pershore market.
Cranswick Today,
29 December 2009
Two 17-year-olds sparked a
full-scale police firearms response after they pointed a handgun out of a
window in Hastings, East Sussex. A
BB gun was recovered. Both teenagers were interviewed
under suspicion of possessing an imitation firearm in a public place.
BBC,
29 December 2009
A man has been arrested on
suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence
after reports of someone being seen with a rifle at a hospital in
Crumpsall, Greater Manchester. He has been released on bail.
Press Association,
28 December 2009
A
gunshot was heard in the vicinity of an incident in Maidstone, Kent,
in which one man died and another was left critically injured after an
apparent hit-and-run. The dead man was crushed by a Land Rover and
the injured man, his brother, was hit by the vehicle but also suffered
gunshot wounds. In what police have described as a "serious domestic
incident" a woman was seen to sprint down the road with a gun and dump it
in a bin. A woman has been charged with murder and two men have been arrested
on suspicion of murder (This is Kent, 31
December 2009).
Hartlepool Mail,
28 December 2009
Adam Bone, 18, pleaded guilty
to a charge of possessing a firearm with intent to cause a fear of
violence. He fired a ball-bearing gun
three times at a fellow motorist after a confrontation in Peterlee,
County Durham, in May 2009.
Evening Gazette,
28 December 2009
A man who terrified people as
he threatened to kill his ex-partner has been jailed for three years.
In August 2009 John Connelly waved an airgun
outside a home in Middlesbrough whilst his ex-partner climbed into
the loft to hide. When police went to his home they found 68 rounds
of .22 ammunition. He admitted affray and possessing ammunition
without a firearm certificate. He had 54 previous offences on his
criminal record.
Sunday Sun,
27 December 2009
A man who was banned from
having guns or ammunition following a previous conviction for possessing a
shotgun shopped himself to the police
in a bid to get help in kicking a drug habit. Mark Hepples from
Blyth, Northumberland, phoned the police after finding a .22 round and
carrying it around for two days. He told them he had live ammunition
in his pocket. He was given a conditional discharge.
This is Derbyshire,
26 December 2009
Shannon Rivers, 19, has
pleaded guilty to possessing a 9mm pistol and ammunition. He was
arrested after police found the gun wrapped in plastic bags in a box in an
outbuilding near his home in Sunny Hill, Derby. The
ammunition was found inside the house. He was given a reduced
sentence of two years and nine months because he had been a key witness in
a recent murder trial. The usual term would be five years.
The Sun,
26 December 2009
A man has been accused of
stealing several hundred pounds after waving an
airgun at staff at a restaurant in Colchester, Essex.
He was caught whist eating at the restaurant 20 minutes later. He
has been charged with possessing a weapon in a public place, theft and
using threatening behaviour in a public place.
News & Star,
25 December 2009
A resident who went outside to
investigate someone who was firing an air weapon at windows on the street
in Workington, Cumbria, was shot with an
air rifle. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment
but the extent of the injuries is not known.
BBC,
25 December 2009
A man, believed to have been
carrying a gun, attacked a pensioner as he was visiting a hospital in
Liverpool. The man demanded money before producing what was
thought to be a handgun. The victim was assaulted when he refused to
hand over cash. The incident happened when the victim was in the
toilets close to the main reception of the hospital.
Wigan Evening Post,
24 December 2009
In a second raid this month on
a bookmakers in Wigan, Greater Manchester, staff were threatened at
gunpoint by a gang who tried to smash their way through a security door.
One of the three men produced a handgun. The staff handed over £200
but the robbers demanded more and fled when they couldn't kick down the
reinforced door.
Newham Recorder,
24 December 2009
A man entered a hospital in
Leyton, north east London, with a gunshot wound to his shoulder.
It is believed he was shot in Walthamstow and police have confirmed
sightings of a group of men in the area wielding a
shotgun. Police later arrested two
men, one aged 18, in Maryland, east London.
Manchester Evening
News,
24 December 2009
A pensioner was held at
gunpoint in her home in Chorlton, Greater Manchester. She had
fallen asleep in a chair but awoke to find a man pointing a gun in her
face. The man demanded cash and a second man appeared and emptied
her handbag. A third men was involved and the gang stole two TVs and
a car. A gang of five men had earlier been seen trying to open car
doors. Shortly afterwards a gang smashed a patio door of another
house in Chorlton but were disturbed a neighbour. One of the
gang showed a gun but did not threaten her. The gang using the
stolen car were seen later running from another house in
Chorlton-cum-Hardy and trying to steal a TV from a house in the
area. The car was found abandoned. A 15-year-old boy has been
charged with aggravated burglary, burglary of a dwelling and attempted
aggravated burglary (BBC, 27 December 2009).
Ham & High,
24 December 2009
Two men dragged another man
into a car in West Hampstead, north west London, pointed a gun at
him and drove him to a nearby cash point where he was forced to withdraw
money from two cash machines. The victim was set free when the car
became stuck in traffic.
Express & Star,
24 December 2009
Three men from Lye,
West Midlands, have been jailed for an attack on a teenager and his
mother. Darren Harding orchestrated the attack at the home of a love
rival. He and his brother Luke, together with Anthony Hadley left
his victim with a leg injury and his mother severely shaken. Harding
was armed with an imitation handgun
and the other two men had a hammer and a baseball bat. The victim
was hit on the head with the gun. Windows of a car were smashed.
Darren Harding pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and well as wounding
with intent, criminal damage and possession of an imitation firearm.
He had also been involved in an earlier incident of aggravated vehicle
taking and was chased by police. He was jailed for eight years.
His brother was jailed for six years and Hadley for five-and-a-half years.
Express & Star,
24 December 2009
Three masked men armed with a
gun rounded up staff at a supermarket in Pendeford, Wolverhampton,
and stole cigarettes.
Evening Gazette,
24 December 2009
A bus driver was forced to
hand over his takings at gunpoint by a youth in Billingham,
Teesside, who held a gun close to his forehead when he refused to hand
over his cash bag. The robbery occurred when the driver opened the
door to let two men onto the bus.
BBC,
24 December 2009
A man and a woman have been
arrested in connection with an armed robbery at an off licence in
Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, where two men armed with a firearm and a
hammer threatened two female workers and stole a quantity of cash.
The firearm was apparently a sawn-off shotgun
(The Sentinel, 26 December 2009).
BBC,
24 December 2009
Two men armed with what is
thought to have been a handgun robbed a bookmakers in Burnham,
Buckinghamshire. The weapon was pointed at a worker who was ordered
to open the safe. The men made off with a large amount of cash.
West Yorkshire Police,
23 December 2009
A man entered a bookmakers in
Leeds and threatened two members of staff with a black handgun and
demanded cash. He left the shop after a quantity of cash was handed
over.
Manchester Evening
News,
23 December 2009
A 17-year-old boy has been
sentenced to an eight-month detention and training order after he admitted
possessing a firearm, possessing of class A drugs and handling stolen
goods. He had pulled out an imitation
handgun when a shopkeeper in Rochdale refused to sell
him drink. The shopkeeper floored the teenager with a baseball bat.
Evening Courier,
23 December 2009
A semi-automatic M-16 assault
rifle was recovered by police from an outbuilding in Little London,
Leeds. It was found in two pieces. Two adults and a
15-year-old were arrested on suspicion of possessing an illegal firearm.
Northern Echo,
22 December 2009
Two men burst into the village
store in Tantobie, County Durham, but a shopworker who was locking
up at the time refused to back down and grabbed their handgun. The
men jumped over the counter and grabbed cigarettes but left without any
money.
Liverpool Echo,
22 December 2009
A man is in hospital after he
was shot in the leg in Huyton, Merseyside. He had been
approached by two men on foot. He is in a stable condition and his
injury is not thought to be life-threatening.
Liverpool Echo,
22 December 2009
Two men smashed their way into
a home in Kirkby, Merseyside, and threatened a couple with a gun.
One of the men demanded their car keys and had to be shown how to use the
key unit before they left. The husband needed seven stitches after
being hit in the arm when the front door was forced.
The Journal,
22 December 2009
When police investigated an
armed raid on the house of Paul Lee's mother in South Shields,
Tyneside, in September 2009 they searched Lee's own home nearby and
discovered cocaine, cash and a loaded pistol. He has admitted
possessing the prohibited firearm, possessing cocaine with intent and
possessing more than 40 9mm bullets. He has been jailed for nine
years.
Gazette & Herald,
22 December 2009
A man from Chippenham,
Wiltshire, has been accused of taking a mobile phone and a wallet from
another man in October 2009. He has pleaded not guilty to one charge
of robbery and possessing an imitation firearm.
Hull Daily Mail,
21 December 2009
Eric Mills held a gun to the
heads of staff and customers at a bookmakers in Hull during a
robbery in August 2009. He was armed with an
imitation firearm. He was arrested
after an armed siege on his home. He has pleaded guilty to robbery
and has been jailed for five years.
Birmingham Mail,
21 December 2009
Roy Garner held a gun to the
head of an elderly customer at a post office in Castle Bromwich,
West Midlands, in February 2009. He was found guilty of attempted
robbery and possessing an imitation firearm.
His accomplice Marcus Hughes pleaded guilty to both charges and was found
to be in contempt in court for failing to answer questions about the
gunman.
BBC,
21 December 2009
Two windows were smashed when
they were shot at separate premises in Coventry. On both
occasions a small car was seen.
BBC,
21 December 2009 *
A shot was fired during an
attempted robbery at a filling station in Worthing, West Sussex.
Two men fled empty handed after being challenged by a member of staff.
The gun is believed to have been a revolver and the shooting is being
treated as attempted murder (Worthing Herald, 5 January 2010).
BBC,
21 December 2009
Three men raided a newsagents
in Walsall, West Midlands. They threatened a customer with a
crowbar and a handgun before escaping with cash and cigarettes.
Sunday Mirror,
20 December 2009
George Charlton has been
jailed for seven and a half years and his son David for eight years after
they were caught cutting cocaine at their house in Gateshead,
Tyneside. Amphetamines and an air rifle
were also found.
BBC,
20 December 2009
In another robbery at a
bookmakers two men armed with a suspected knife and handgun threatened
staff members in Sunderland. The men made off with a quantity
of cash.
This is South Devon,
19 December 2009
A 17-year-old who aimed a
"toy" AK47 gun at passers-by in
Paignton, Devon, and also waved the weapon at a superstore, has been
issued with a fixed penalty notice for causing alarm and distress to
others. He was given 'suitable advice' about his conduct and given
an £80 fine.
Sunderland Echo,
19 December 2009
A gang of three men armed with
a metal bar and a small handgun smashed their way into a warehouse in
Philadelphia, County Durham. They held up the owner while
demanding money and attacked him with the metal bar.
Manchester Evening
News,
19 December 2009
A gang threatened and
newsagent and two shop assistants with a shotgun,
pistol and machetes during a robbery in Monsall, Manchester.
A large amount of cash was taken.
East Anglian Daily
Times,
19 December 2009
A man was left with a gunshot
wound following a brawl at a club in Ipswich. The injury is
not believed to be life threatening. Four other people were treated
in hospital with minor cuts and bruises. It is believed the victim
was shot in the groin with a silver handgun (Evening Star, 24
December 2009).
Cambridge News,
19 December 2009
Shotguns were among items stolen during burglaries at farms in
Castle Camps and Balsham, Cambridgeshire. In the first
burglary a metal gun cabinet was ripped from a wall and forced open.
Three guns were taken. In the second incidents a shotgun cabinet was
pulled from the wall and four guns taken.
Cambridge News,
19 December 2009
A man was injured in a
drive-by shooting at a nightclub in St Neots, Cambridgeshire.
A shotgun blast punched a hole in a
door. The victim is believed to have been hit by flying splinters.
The premises has now been closed. A man has been charged with
attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to cause an
offence (News & Crier, 24 December 2009).
Birmingham Mail,
19 December 2009
Daytron Johnson and Damien
Brade have been convicted of kidnap, false imprisonment and two charges of
possessing a firearm with intent and a third man Aneel Tahir admitted a
charge of kidnap. In July 2007 a man was lured into a car in
Birmingham by Tahir and then driven to a petrol station where three
men, one armed with a shotgun, got in.
The victim was threatened and bound in parcel tape. He was
released after the kidnappers got £15000. Johnson, who admitted
another firearms offence, was jailed for 11 and a half years, Brade for a
minimum for six years and Tahir for three years.
BBC,
19 December 2009
A delivery van driver was
robbed by two men in Newcastle upon Tyne. The men were armed
with a machete and what is believed to be a firearm. The men made
off with hundreds of pounds of takings money.
BBC,
19 December 2009
Following an incident in which
a group of people entered a bank in Balham, south London, five
people, including two teenagers, one aged 15, and a woman have been
charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and firearm possession.
Wigan Evening Post,
18 December 2009
Two women cashiers at a
bookmakers in Wigan, Greater Manchester, were threatened by a man
who pointed a gun at them and ordered them to fill a bag with money.
He stole about £900.
Warrington Guardian,
18 December 2009
The window of a family's car
was smashed by an apparent shot fired in Whittle Hall, Warrington,
Cheshire. The shot missed a baby's head by inches. The police
were unable to find the item responsible and are investigating the case as
criminal damage.
Swindon Advertiser,
18 December 2009
Two men threatened staff at a
bookmakers in Pinehurst, Swindon, with a handgun. The police
have not said how much cash was stolen.
Leicester Mercury,
18 December 2009 *
Rico Costello mugged two
homeless people at gunpoint. He was in possession of an
airgun in the centre of Leicester
at the time of the two incidents in August and September 2009. He
also admitted assault by beating another man. He has been sentenced
to five years in prison (Leicester Mercury, 20 February 2010).
The Journal,
18 December 2009
A masked teenager burst into a
service station in Hebburn, Tyneside, and demanded money from a
female member of staff. He was brandishing what is believed to be
and handgun and fled with a quantity of cash.
Evening Star,
18 December 2009
Staff at a bookmakers in
Frinton, Essex, were forced to hand over cash by a man armed with a
shotgun. The man stole a three-figure sum.
Daily Echo,
18 December 2009
A couple were threatened at
gunpoint by a gang of armed raiders in Kinson, Bournemouth in
Dorset. Three men demanded money but fled empty-handed. The
previous weekend two men held up a woman and her brother at another
property in West Howe, Bournemouth. In both cases the victims
were overpowered by the intruders on their doorstep. Police are
keeping an open mind as to whether the raids are linked.
Coventry Telegraph,
18 December 2009
Joseph Thompson has been
jailed for 11 years for the attempted murders of two men. He had
pleaded not guilty and had also denied having a handgun with intent to
endanger life during an incident in Coventry in April 2009 (see
Incidents).
Birmingham Mail,
18 December 2009
Dani Watson has been found
guilty of murdering a man who was shot dead outside a house in Newtown,
Birmingham in August 2008 (see
Incidents). He must serve a minimum of 25 years.
Bedfordshire on Sunday,
18 December 2009
Mark Smith took a
shotgun to a field in Wootton,
Bedfordshire, intending to kill himself after he had assaulted his wife in
Marston Moretaine in August 2008. He has pleaded guilty to
assault causing actual bodily harm and having a shotgun in a public place.
He was given a 46 week prison sentence suspended for 12 months with 100
hours unpaid work and a total of £1500 for a fine, compensation and costs.
Winsford Guardian,
17 December 2009
Damage to a window in
Winsford, Cheshire, is thought to have been caused by an
air rifle.
Stourbridge News,
17 December 2009
Dean Tromans fired an air
rifle at a 19-year-old while he was high on drink and drugs. The
victim had to undergo emergency surgery and has been told by doctors it is
likely he will lose the eye. Tromans, who had previous convictions,
admitted wounding and also possessing a .22
calibre air rifle which had been fitted with a crude silencer.
He and another man used the gun for target practice using tin foil and
pellets as ammunition at a premises in Lye, West Midlands, before
turning the gun on the victim. He has been jailed for five years.
Northampton Chronicle &
Echo,
17 December 2009
A man was arrested following a
gun raid at a bank in Northampton. A clerk was threatened
with what appeared to be a handgun. The arrested man was also being
questioned in connection with an attempted armed robbery at a bank in
Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. A man, who has been questioned
about three robberies in Northampton and the one in Wellingborough, has
been charged with firearms offences (BBC, 21 December 2009).
Manchester Evening News,
17 December 2009
A man who was collecting money
for charity next to a float carrying Father Christmas was hit by a pellet
from an air rifle in Cadishead,
Manchester. The victim was not hurt.
The Journal,
17 December 2009
Two men armed with a small
black handgun burst into a second hand car dealership in Dunston,
Tyneside. They demanded money before fleeing with a three-figure
sum.
Islington Gazette,
17 December 2009
One man was badly injured when
he shot at a nightclub in Farringdon, central London. The man
had already left the scene when police arrived but found in a hospital
with a gunshot wound in his lower back. He is now in a stable
condition. In a separate incident a man on a motorcycle opened fire
on a group of people outside a nightclub in Finsbury, central
London. Both nightclubs have
been temporarily closed following an emergency meeting of Islington
Council. Although it was first suggested that the two incidents were
not connected they are not thought to be linked (Islington Gazette,
30 December 2009).
Express & Echo,
17 December 2009
Richard Beckles shot a rival
outside a fast food restaurant in Wolverhampton in February 2009.
A bullet from his revolver tore through his victim's hand. Beckles
was jailed for 12 years after admitted wounding with intent to cause
grievous bodily harm and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger
life. His accomplice Lee Bernard, who did not know the gun was
loaded, pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear
of violence and was jailed for six years.
Dorset Echo,
17 December 2009
An inquest has heard how a man
found dead in his flat in Dorchester, Dorset, in September 2009 had
died of 'massive head injuries due to a gunshot wound'. A
shotgun was found between his legs.
The coroner recorded an open verdict and said that although 'the injury
was self-inflicted' there was not enough evidence to legally record
suicide.
BBC,
17 December 2009
An 80-year-old man has been
charged with attempted rape, robbery, aggravated burglary and possession
of an imitation firearm with intent to
commit a schedule 1 offence. The charges relate to an incident in
January 2000 when he pushed his way into the home of an elderly woman in
Ampthill, Bedfordshire, apparently armed with a handgun.
Wilts and
Gloucestershire Standard,
16 December 2009
A police officer from
Cricklade, Wiltshire, who was on suspended leave was found dead after
sustaining fatal head injuries. It is understood he killed himself
with a shotgun.
Stroud News & Journal,
16 December 2009
A charge of possessing a lead
pellet which could be used as ammunition in an
air weapon was dropped after a man who was banned from owning
any sort of ammunition following a four year jail sentence explained how
he used the pellets to add weight to his model trains. He had
pleaded guilty to being in possession of a lead pellet in Standish,
Gloucestershire, in November 2009, but the plea was disregarded. The
prosecutor who revoked the charge described the move as 'highly unusual'.
Peterborough Evening
Telegraph,
16 December 2009
Maureen Slack threatened two
other women with her husband's old air rifle.
She has pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing of a firearm with
intent to cause fear. The incident followed harassment suffered by
her and her husband at the hands of youths in her neighbourhood in
Bretton, Peterborough. A judge ruled she was driven by stress and
gave her a 12-month supervision order.
London Informer,
16 December 2009
Two men were shot in a
shotgun attack in Ladbroke Grove, west London. They sought
refuge in a pub. One of the victims was shot in the back and the
other in the legs.
Leicester Mercury,
16 December 2009
Three
air rifles and an
imitation firearm were among weapons
recovered by police during raids in the Hinckley and Bosworth
areas of Leicestershire. Eight people were arrested.
Hounslow Chronicle,
16 December 2009
Police found two
semi-automatic pistols, a sawn-off shotgun,
a silencer and ammunition hidden under a wardrobe in the home of Marlena
Ocran in Isleworth, west London, in June 2009. The discovery
followed a tip off. She eventually admitted knowing the guns were
there but that two other people had access to the flat and that they must
have hidden them there. She admitted possession of a firearm,
ammunition and a shortened shotgun and was sentenced to five years in
prison.
BBC,
16 December 2009
Anselm Ribera, Christopher
Morrissey and Declan Morrissey have been found guilty of the murder of a
sub-postmaster's son and the attempted murder of the sub-postmaster during
an armed raid in Fairfield, Worcestershire, in January 2009 (see
Incidents). A
fourth man was cleared of both charges. The three convicted men have
been jailed for at least 34 years each (BBC, 18 December 2009).
BBC,
16 December 2009
A bus depot worker was hit on
the head with a shotgun during a raid
in Wigan, Greater Manchester. It is believed that a gang was
targeting a cash delivery van, but escaped without any money. Two
men were later arrested.
Slough & Langley
Observer,
15 December 2009
A third bookmakers in
Slough, Berkshire, has been targeted by a gunman. Staff were
threatened by a man with a handgun who stole approximately £125.
Shoreham Herald,
15 December 2009
A man was found dead in a car
in a lay-by in Eastbourne, East Sussex, with a chest injury
consistent with being shot. A handgun was found in the car. A dog
which also appeared to have been shot was also found. No other
person is suspected. The death is being linked to a fire at a house
in Shoreham. It was reported elsewhere that the weapon was a
shotgun (BBC, 14 December
2009).
Pendle Today,
15 December 2009 *
A man from Nelson,
Lancashire, denies possessing a prohibited firearm, a modified .22 rimfire
calibre double barrelled over and under Derringer starting pistol with a
barrel of less than 30 cm. He also denies possessing prohibited
ammunition, cartridges with bullets designed to explode on or immediately
after impact, making a threat to kill and common assault. Police
discovered the weapon and bullets when they search the house where the man
was said to be living or lodging. He is facing at least five years
in jail after being found guilty of the charges (see
March 2010 Incidents).
Garforth Today,
15 December 2009
The boss of a taxi firm had a
handgun pointed at his neck during a robbery as he left the offices in
Moortown, Leeds. He handed over a bag containing cash and the
two gunmen fled.
Echo,
15 December 2009
A woman was found shot dead in
at an address in Rochford, Essex. A short time later the body
of a man was found in a deep water lake. His death is not being
treated as suspicious and detectives are not looking for anyone else in
connection with the woman's death. It is believed the man owned two
shotguns and shot his wife before
throwing himself in the water (Daily Mail, 15 December 2009).
BBC,
15 December 2009
A man has been charged after a
police officer was threatened at gunpoint in Trafford, Greater
Manchester. The gun was recovered and found to be a
blank-firing pistol.
The Argus,
15 December 2009
A man was confronted by a
gunman after answering the door of his home in Portslade, East
Sussex. The gunman demanded cash and bank cards but had the door
slammed on his arm. He dropped the weapon, shown later to be a
BB gun, and fled empty-handed.
This is South Devon,
14 December 2009
A road in Newton Abbot,
Devon, was closed when armed police swooped on an address after reports
that a man might have a firearm. No gun was seen or recovered during
the incident, but a man was arrested.
Swindon Advertiser,
14 December 2009
Dean Casey armed himself with
his friend's ball bearing pistol for a
meeting in March 2009 in Penhill, Swindon, during which he was
alleged to have held the weapon to a woman's head and her boyfriend's
throat. However, the allegations were not supported by an
independent witness. However, Casey pleaded guilty to two counts of
possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
He also admitted possessing amphetamines and drink driving on the same
occasions. Casey was jailed for 51 weeks suspended for a year and
was told to do 150 hours of community service. His friend, James
Deegan, 19, admitted the firearms offence and was given a 40 weeks
suspended sentence and ordered to do 130 hours of community service.
Both men were also fined.
Leicester Mercury,
14 December 2009
A thief stole a pick-up truck
containing thousands of pounds worth of jewellery and
shotgun cartridges while the owner was
checking for a flat tyre. The incident occurred in Kirby Muxloe,
Leicestershire.
Western Morning News,
12 December 2009
An inquest has heard that a
man took his own life with a bolt gun used in the slaughter of animals.
His body was discovered in April 2009 at his farm in Whitestone,
Exeter.
This is South Devon,
12 December 2009
Police are investigating a
claim that a man was shot with an airgun
in Ellacombe, Devon. They received a phone call from the
victim to say he had been hit in the leg.
Telegraph,
12 December 2009 *
Four men have been convicted
of trying to smuggle cocaine into Britain. Two of the men, Patrick
Walsh and John Dunlop, were responsible for preparing to rob a series of
cash vans in Hertfordshire. Walsh was caught carrying a handgun at a
petrol station in Denham in August 2009 a week after other members
of the gang preparing to rob a cash van in Barking, east London,
were caught by armed police carrying two pistol and ammunition. Dunlop was convicted of possessing two guns and 213 rounds of
ammunition and was sentenced to eight years imprisonment. Walsh
admitted drugs, weapons and robbery offences and was jailed for 21 years.
The other men were William Cannon, who admitted possession of three
firearms and ammunition and was jailed for five years and Joseph Gorgin
admitted firearms offences was also jailed for five years (Kent News,
19 January 2010).
Sunderland Echo,
12 December 2009
Malcolm Robson, Robert Pittard
and James Murray have been jailed for raids on post offices and bookmakers
in a bid to raise cash for their extensive cannabis-growing business.
Robson worked with an unknown man in three raids in Wingate,
Trimdon Station and Elwick in County Durham (see
March 2009 Incidents).
One of them brandished a sawn-off shotgun.
Robson was jailed for eight years for conspiracy to commit armed robbery
and he admitted being involved in the raids. He was given a further
12 months for conspiracy to cultivate cannabis. Pittard and Murray
were jailed for seven years and four years, respectively.
The Star,
12 December 2009
Ryan Ward, 19, who must serve
at least 14 years in jail for the murder of a man whom he attacked with a
brick in Loxley, Sheffield, had posted a picture of himself posing
with a gun on a social networking site.
Manchester Evening
News,
12 December 2009
An armed gang stole tens of
thousands of pounds from a bank in Cheadle, Cheshire. The men
were armed with an axe and a sawn-off shotgun
and assaulted a female member of staff.
BBC,
12 December 2009
Four men armed men attempted
to rob a
jewellery shop in Liverpool. A security guard who chased
after the men was threatened with a gun.
Uttoxeter Advertiser,
11 December 2009
Three juveniles were arrested
after a police helicopter was scrambled and armed police called after
reports of a man waving a gun in the centre of Abbots Bromley,
Staffordshire. The gun turned out to be an
imitation handgun, but the response caused much of the village
to be brought to a standstill.
Manchester Evening
News,
11 December 2009
Casey Shaw took part in an
armed robbery in a bar in West Didsbury, Greater Manchester, in
July 2009 (see Incidents)
after bingeing on cocaine in the days beforehand. One of the other
two men involved appeared to be carrying a
shotgun and the other brandished a blade. Shaw was
recognised from a CCTV still. He admitted two counts of robbery and
possessing an imitation firearm.
He has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years.
Harrow Times,
11 December 2009
A man who survived an
attempted execution in Harrow, north west London, in April 2009
(see Incidents) has
been jailed for six and a half years after being caught with a modified
imitation handgun loaded with three
bullets in Harrow in June 2009. Garth Robinson, who had 24 previous
convictions including possession of weapons, was found guilty.
Gazette & Herald,
11 December 2009
Justin McDonald admitted
possession of drugs and a CS gas canister, which counts as a firearm under
the Firearms Act, on his narrowboat moored in Devizes, Wiltshire,
in November 2009. He also had other weapons, including a loaded
air pistol, but could not be charged with
their possession. He was sentenced to eight weeks.
Evening Courier,
11 December 2009
A windscreen was damaged after
a car was targeted by shots, believed to have been from an
air rifle, in King Cross, Halifax,
West Yorkshire. Police think the gunman could have been in another
vehicle.
Evening Chronicle,
11 December 2009
Three men raided a bookmakers
in Walker, Tyneside, and demanded cash. One of the men was
brandishing a handgun.
Birmingham Mail,
11 December 2009
Zico Davies carried out
robberies on a shop assistant and a taxi driver in Birmingham.
He pleaded guilty to two charges of robbery and one of possessing an
imitation firearm. The gun, a
revolver with a long barrel was produced during the attack on the taxi
driver in Winson Green, whom Davies threatened and pistol-whipped.
BBC,
11 December 2009
A man threatened staff at a
building society branch in Smethwick, West Midlands, with a gun,
although no weapon was actually seen. CCTV images have been
released.
Wigan Evening Post,
10 December 2009
Three men threatened staff at
a jewellers in Wigan, Greater Manchester, with a
sawn-off shotgun before stealing a large
number of watches.
Swindon Advertiser,
10 December 2009 *
Three local men have been
charged in connection with an armed robbery at a bookmakers in Swindon,
Wiltshire. One of them has been charged with conspiracy to steal and
possessing an imitation firearm.
Two men have pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to steal and one of
them has admitted possessing an imitation firearm (see
January 2010 Incidents).
Swindon Advertiser,
10 December 2009
Johnny Elliott from Walcot,
Wiltshire, has pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and cocaine with
intent to supply, a firearms offence and possessing cocaine. A
stun gun and cocaine were found in a car.
He has been jailed for three years and 10 months.
Sunderland Echo,
10 December 2009
A man has appeared in court
accused of an offence under the Firearms Act and making off without
payment. The charges follow an incident in which a taxi driver was
allegedly threatened with a gun after he took a fare from Sunderland
to Consett, County Durham.
Huddersfield Daily
Examiner,
10 December 2009
Rahuel Delucca hid in a car
while his friend fired a shot from a 7.65mm handgun at two police officers
in Claire Hill, Huddersfield, in November 2005 (see
Incidents). He
and Marcus Rhoden were given indefinite sentences. Delucca was
convicted of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence
and pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited firearm and ammunition and
would have to serve a five-and-a-half year minimum jail sentence. He
has now appealed to have his sentence reduced.
Huddersfield Daily
Examiner,
10 December 2009
A robber brandished a gun at a
petrol station worker in Fenay Bridge, West Yorkshire, and escaped
with between £100 and £150.
Ham & High,
10 December 2009
Jay Ellis was jailed for three
years after a rifle was found at his home in Kentish Town, north
London, in July 2009. He was automatically banned from owning a
firearm for five years as a result of a previous conviction. He had
pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.
BBC,
10 December 2009
Two blank-firing handguns were
among items found during a series of raids in Greater Manchester
which resulted in 173 people being charged.
BBC,
10 December 2009
Three men have been arrested
and a loaded revolver seized after a police operation in Tottenham Hale,
north London. A passenger was seen to throw out a bag when a car was
stopped. The bag was later found to contain a gun.
Telegraph & Argus,
9 December 2009
Shots, believed to have come
from a shotgun, were fired from a
vehicle at a group of men in Manningham, Bradford. Police do
not believe anyone was injured but some vehicles parked nearby were
damaged.
Northern Echo,
9 December 2009
Two men wrongly suspected of
being poachers were allegedly assaulted and threatened by three gamekeepers in
February 2009. The men had got lost on an authorised shooting trip
near Askrigg, North Yorkshire. One gamekeeper is alleged to
have pointed a shotgun at one of the
men's head. All three defendants denied affray and were found not
guilty on all charges (Sunday Express, 13 December 2009).
Macclesfield Express,
9 December 2009
Two women were held at
gunpoint and robbed of jewellery during a raid on their home in
Prestbury, Cheshire. The man was armed with what police think
was a machine gun.
Liverpool Echo,
9 December 2009
Gunshots were heard in a
street in Belle Vale, Liverpool. The shots are being linked
to the sighting of a car being driven erratically down the road. A
man has been arrested.
Knutsford Guardian,
9 December 2009
Three men wielding a
sawn-off shotgun, a 9mm automatic handgun
and a cosh broke into a home in Pickmere, Cheshire, and held the
family at gunpoint. The men stole a large quantity of cash and
jewellery from a safe.
The Gazette,
9 December 2009
A man gave himself up
following an armed siege at a property in Blackpool, Lancashire.
The police had received a tip-off a man had a gun but no firearm was
recovered.
Garstang Chronicle,
9 December 2009
A worker in a café bar was
injured during a robbery in Knott End, Lancashire. Two men
demanded keys from him and pulled out a handgun and threatened to shoot
him. He slipped and dislocated his shoulder and the pair ran off.
Evening Chronicle,
9 December 2009
John Kay has been given a
12-year jail sentence after raiding a filling station in Blaydon,
Tyneside, armed with a shotgun in
September 2008. When the attendant refused to let him in he fired at
the glass screen and shattered it as she fled. He was with an
unknown hammer-wielding accomplice. He was found guilty of
possession of a firearm, damaging property, being reckless whether life
would be endangered and attempted robbery.
East London Advertiser,
9 December 2009
A man who told staff he had a
gun and then demanded money is being sought after raids on banks in
Wanstead, north east London, in September 2009, and in Loughton
and Waltham Abbey, Essex, in October. During November he
raided banks in north London, two in Enfield and one in Palmers
Green, and the latest hold up was in Islington Green this
month. A weapon has never been seen on any of the raids. A
CCTV image has been issued.
Chad,
9 December 2009
A 16-year-old youth who shot a
woman with an air rifle whilst she was
waiting for her boyfriend following a night out in Mansfield,
Nottinghamshire, in August 2009 (see
Incidents) has claimed he had been in a
back garden aiming at flowerpots. He had received the weapon as a
gift and had had no training. He admitted the shooting and was
given a 12-month community order and will be electronically tagged for six
months. The boy's parents, who were criticised by the judge, were
ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to the victim who has had to cancel a
contract with a theatre company as a result of her injury.
Bromley Times,
9 December 2009
Vanessa Moses from
Beckenham, south east London, was found by police with a gun in her
flat in July 2008. She was aged 17 at the time and had agreed to
look after a handgun for some boys. She pleaded guilty to possession
of a prohibited firearm and was sentenced to three years detention.
BBC,
9 December 2009
A man has been accused of
possessing illegal weapons after police allegedly found a blank-firing
revolver and gas cartridge firing guns at his home in Plumstead,
south east London. He denies all three offences. The jury
found him not guilty on all three charges (Press Association, 10
December 2009).
BBC,
9 December 2009
A man has been charged with
possessing a firearm. He was arrested outside the home of the former
Prime Minister Tony Blair in Westminster, central London.
BBC,
9 December 2009
Another bookmakers in
Slough, Berkshire, has been raided by a gunman. A man threatened
a female cashier with a gun, forcing her to hand over cash.
Yorkshire Post,
8 December 2009
An inquest has heard that a
barrister who was facing eight counts of perverting the course of justice
shot himself barely an hour before he was due to be asked to give up his
shotgun. He put the gun in his
mouth and killed himself on the front lawn of his home in Wootton,
Lincolnshire, in May 2009. A verdict of suicide was recorded.
Police have called for greater powers to seize firearms.
This is Hampshire,
8 December 2009
A 19-year-old woman from
Thornhill, Southampton, who was high on drink and cannabis robbed a
supermarket, attempted to rob two people in the street and shattered a
florist's window in August 2009 (see
Incidents). In the supermarket
Bernice Chance had pointed an air pistol
at a teenage assistant asking the girl whether she thought it was
fake. She then pointed the gun at a man's face and used it to smash
the window. Chance admitted the offences as well as being in break
of an Asbo. She was jailed for five years and received a four year
extended licence.
South Manchester
Reporter,
8 December 2009
Shots were fired in Whalley
Range, Greater Manchester. One bullet casing was found on a
doorstep and police recovered three others on the pavement.
The Sentinel,
8 December 2009
A man from Stoke-on-Trent
who asked Staffordshire Police to take control of a rifle and ammunition
after a change in his personal circumstances had the rifle and licence
handed back, but he says that 300 live bullets have disappeared. He
intends to go to the Independent Police Complaints Commission as a result
of his concerns about the whereabouts of the .22 ammunition.
Northampton Chronicle
& Echo,
8 December 2009
Aurel Radulescu has pleaded
guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon after a
stun gun was found in his car when his brother-in-law was
stopped in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, in April 2009.
The gun looked like a torch. He has been sentenced to 40 weeks'
imprisonment, suspended for 24 months and must do 120 hours' community
service and pay costs.
Manchester Evening
News,
8 December 2009
James Drewitt, 19, held a
handgun to a drinker's head outside a pub in Manchester and
threatened to shoot him. He was seen on CCTV being overpowered by
his victim, who grapples with the teenager before headbutting him.
The incident happened when a group of between 15 and 20 youths suddenly
ran inside the pub and the victim became concerned for his wife.
After the incident Drewitt, who had affiliations with the Longsight Crew,
was "pounced" on by other youths and was stabbed. He pleaded guilty
to possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear or violence and also
admitted a separate harassment charge. He was jailed for a minimum
of three years.
The Journal,
8 December 2009
James Curry brandished a
loaded air pistol at a police officer
after he thought there was an intruder in his garden in Hylton Castle,
Sunderland, and went to investigate. He admitted possession of a
firearm with intent to cause fear. Curry who has 18 previous
convictions was given a 36 week jail sentence, suspended for two years,
with supervision and 150 hours of unpaid work and was put on curfew for
three months.
Express & Echo,
8 December 2009
Photographs of Glen Parke
posing with a sawn-off shotgun were
discovered on his son's phone during a raid on the latter's home in
Bilston, West Midlands. The weapon was one that had been found
hidden after an aggravated burglary at a hotel in Wolverhampton.
Parke admitted illegal possession of the shotgun and was jailed for five
years.
Echo,
8 December 2009
Two men were arrested on
suspicion of assault and having a shotgun
and baseball bat. The arrests occurred after police found a man in
possession of the weapons after being called to a late night car crash
near Basildon, Essex.
The Courier
(Leamington Spa),
8 December 2009
Two men threatened a woman
with what appeared to be a handgun and stole an unknown amount of cash
from a lettings agents in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.
BBC,
8 December 2009
Saul Murray from Luton,
Bedfordshire, has been sentenced to five years' imprisonment after he
admitted possessing a prohibited firearm and possession of ammunition.
He had agreed to keep the pistol for a week in return for £300 but the gun
went missing. He confessed to police when speaking to them about
another matter.
BBC,
8 December 2009
A man from Hyde,
Cheshire, has been charged with conspiracy to blackmail, possession of a
Section 5 firearm and possession of an offensive weapon. A second
man from Leeds has been charged with conspiracy to blackmail.
The Star,
7 December 2009
Gary Weymes terrorised his
lover and threatened to turn up at her house in Rossington, South
Yorkshire, with a sawn-off shotgun.
He pleaded guilty to one count of harassment and was given an 18-month
community order with an anger management course. She had written a
letter telling of her forgiveness and rejecting a restraining order
against Weymes.
Liverpool Echo,
7 December 2009
A street in Norris Green,
Liverpool, was sealed off after residents reported hearing gunshots.
The windows of two cars were damaged.
Liverpool Daily Post,
7 December 2009
Four men attacked the window
of a jewellers in Birkenhead, the Wirral, and grabbed a haul of
watches. It remained unclear whether the window had been shot with a
nail-gun or a shotgun. It has
not been confirmed whether the men were armed with a firearm.
Evening Gazette,
7 December 2009
Two men and a 14-year-old boy
robbed a teenager of his air rifle
when he was on his way to do target practice in Eston, Teesside.
Darren Green grabbed him and demanded the gun and Christopher Blackburn
tripped the victim and knelt on him, pinning him down. The boy
pulled the gun away from him and was later seen by police trying to hide
the gun. Green was jailed for three years, Blackburn for two and a
half years, and the boy was given a 12 months referral order. They
had pleaded guilty to robbery.
Cambridge News,
7 December 2009
In June 2009 (see
Incidents) Robert
Inman stole a police van by forcing two officers from it at gunpoint in
Peterborough. The van was found abandoned in nearby Yaxley.
Inman hijacked another vehicle and he and another man were arrested at a
house in Haverhill, Suffolk, hours later. He pleaded guilty
to eight charges, one of robbery, one of kidnapping, three of possessing a
firearm with intent to endanger life, two of possessing ammunition with
intent to endanger life and one of possessing ammunition without a
certificate. He was given a 14 year jail sentence.
Birmingham Mail,
7 December 2009 *
Two gang members, Tobias Grant
and Tacumba Wheeler, have been convicted of possessing a fully-loaded
Mac-10 machine pistol. It was found by police following a fight in
Aston, Birmingham. Grant was sentenced to 14 years and
Wheeler for 8 years (Birmingham Mail, 20 February 2010).
Southern Daily Echo,
6 December 2009
Mark Fisher held up a service
station in Southampton with an imitation
firearm and stole almost £20,000. He pretended to be
detective chief inspector investigating the loss of cash from the garage.
He escaped in a stolen truck. He was found guilty of possessing the
firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and admitted stealing the
truck. He was jailed for six years and received a two year extended
licence.
Sunderland Echo,
5 December 2009
Physiotherapist Stephen
Sterling, who has practices in Sunderland and Seaham, was
given a 12-month caution by the Health Professional Council after he
encouraged a road accident victim to fire an air
pistol at a sundial as part of his treatment.
Northern Echo,
5 December 2009
Police found a
sawn-off shotgun and 25 cartridges
outside a flat in Middlesbrough where they discovered heroin and
crack cocaine. David Suggett was jailed for three years after he
pleaded guilty to possessing a shotgun without a certificate. A
woman who lived at the same address admitted possession of the drugs with
intent to supply and jailed for six years.
Echo,
5 December 2009
A man threatened staff at
gunpoint and stole cash from a supermarket in Canvey, Essex.
He was armed with a black handgun.
Birmingham Mail,
5 December 2009
Julian Gibbs, who earlier this
year admitted three charges of possessing a firearm, two charges of having
ammunition, possession a firearm with intent and possessing a silencer and
was sentenced to six years in prison, would have been given automatic
release halfway through this sentence. However his sentence has been
increased after an appeal from police and prosecutors. He has been
given an indeterminate sentence and must now serve a minimum of five years
before being eligible for parole. In July 2008 Gibbs was arrested at
his home in Hockley, West Midlands, after police found two
revolvers, a silencer, ammunition and drugs under floorboards. He
was granted bail but five months later police officers on patrol in
Winson Green saw him throw away a bag containing a loaded pistol.
BBC,
5 December 2009
Four teenagers have been
charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to
endanger life after the discovery of a firearm in a vehicle at a property
in Kensington, Liverpool.
Redditch Advertiser,
4 December 2009
One man has been arrested and
released on bail after a firearm was discharged in Redditch,
Worcestershire. Police said they are still looking for several men.
Northampton Chronicle
& Echo,
4 December 2009
Lemuel Laws found a
sawn-off shotgun and six rounds of
ammunition while repairing a fence in his brother's garden and took them
home for safekeeping. He hid it under a mattress. The weapon
and ammunition were found when his home in Kings Heath,
Northampton, was searched after Laws was arrested on suspicion of
aggravated burglary. He pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm
and ammunition and was jailed for five years.
Liverpool Echo,
4 December 2009
Seven men and one woman have
been jailed for a total of more than 57 years for their roles in a drugs
gang. The gang were responsible for spraying bullets from an
automatic Uzi sub-machine gun during attacks in Huyton, Merseyside,
in October 2007 and August 2008. There was a third incident in
Huyton involving a handgun. Paul Johnson and his partner Claire
Heron were jailed for 12 years and 9 years for firearms conspiracy and
drug offences. Joseph McIntyre was jailed for 5 years and three
months for firearms offences and Robert Symes was jailed for 6 and a half
years for firearms and drug offences.
Liverpool Echo,
4 December 2009
A shot was fired when a man
went to answer the door at a property in Croxteth, Liverpool.
No-one was hit and the bullet lodged in a piece of furniture.
Express & Echo,
4 December 2009
A man has admitted assaulting
a woman and possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear but has denied
raping the woman and then attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The attack took place on a riverbank in Dulverton, Somerset.
The victim has described trying to fend off blows from the butt of the
accused's air rifle. The trial continues.
Ealing Gazette,
4 December 2009
Amandeep Singh Sandhu from
Southall, west London, who was found guilty to causing grievous bodily
harm with intent, as well as possession of cocaine with intent to supply
and having a prohibited firearm, a shotgun,
has had his sentence cut to 12 years from 13 and a half years originally
imposed in May 2009.
BBC,
4 December 2009
A man has died after being
shot in the stomach during a robbery outside the money exchange firm where
he worked in Longsight, Manchester. He was robbed of his
laptop and £10,000 in cash. He died in hospital seven hours later.
The victim's
colleague was pistol-whipped in the face with the butt of the gun during
the attack (Guardian, 4 December 2009). One man who was
arrested has been released on bail, and a further three men were being
held on suspicion of murder (South Manchester Reporter, 6 December
2009).
This is Croydon Today,
3 December 2009
Police discovered a cannabis
factory in Addiscombe, south London, after a member of the public
reported seeing a gun there. Officers found no trace of a firearm.
One man was arrested.
Sutton Guardian,
3 December 2009
Three men have been found
guilty for their part in the torture, robbery and rape of a couple in
Clapham, south London, in October 2008. A gun was held to the
woman's head whilst one of the attackers forced her to have sex with him.
Reon Hall and Aaron Fitzgerald were found guilty of unlawful imprisonment
and robbery earlier this year and were each sentenced to nine years in
jail. Gavin Gordon has been found guilty of two counts each of
aggravated robbery, unlawful imprisonment, actual bodily harm and theft
and will be sentenced later.
Local Guardian,
3 December 2009
A man claiming to have a gun
threatened to shoot staff at a shop in Tooting, south London, and
demanded cash. Shop workers filled a bag he put on the counter with
money.
Jarrow & Hebburn
Gazette,
3 December 2009
An elderly couple have
described how an airgun sniper
shattered their dining room window in South Shields during a
shooting spree. They found a hole in the front window and shattered
glass everywhere. Three cars were damaged in streets nearby.
Isle of Wight County
Press,
3 December 2009
A man from Yarmouth,
Isle of Wight, has been remanded in custody after being accused of
threatening to shoot his elder daughter with a
shotgun.
Hampshire Chronicle,
3 December 2009
Staff at a kebab van were
threatened with an air rifle in
Otterbourne, Hampshire. The threats followed an argument and a
struggle when food was thrown around the van.
Beeston Today,
3 December 2009
Repair workers on a railway
line in Middleton, West Yorkshire, were shot at with an
airgun. One of the workers was
struck on the wrist by a pellet.
BBC,
3 December 2009
A man and a woman have been
found shot dead at a house in Brabourne Leas, Kent. Police
have said that no-one else was involved. It is believed the man shot
his wife with a shotgun before turning
the gun on himself (Daily Express, 4 December 2009). A
post-mortem has revealed that the woman suffered multiple gunshot wounds
while her husband died from just one shot (Kent Online, 7 December
2009).
This is Scunthorpe,
2 December 2009
Mark Downes was found to have
an illegal stun gun when police
searched his property in Althorpe, Lincolnshire after he had made a
burglary claim which turned out to be false. He admitted fraud,
concealing criminal property, fraudulent use of a tax disc and having a
prohibited weapon. He was jailed for 12 months.
This is Local London,
2 December 2009
Two men from Brockley
and Oval, south London, have appeared in court charged with
possession of three firearms, possession of a handgun with intent to
endanger life and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of
violence. They also face charges relating to ammunition and
possession of criminal property and one is charged with GBH with intent.
The News,
2 December 2009
Danny Brennan and Jamie Wright
held a man at gunpoint and threatened to shoot him when they tried to rob
him in Portsmouth in July 2009. The victim handed over his
mobile phone. Brennan was on bail for attempted robbery at the time
and has been sentenced to six years after pleading guilty to possession of
an imitation firearm and robbery.
Wright, who was serving a suspended sentence at the time of the robbery,
will serve five years after admitting the same offences and the
cultivation of a cannabis plant.
BBC,
2 December 2009
A man and a woman were taken
to hospital with gunshot wounds after a shooting in Wood End,
Coventry. Their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
The Argus,
2 December 2009
Three men held up an off
licence in Worthing, West Sussex, and threatened a shop assistant
with what is believed to be a BB gun.
Three men, two of them teenagers, have been arrested on suspicion of
robbery.
Rugby Advertiser,
1 December 2009
A man who robbed a bank and a
post office in Bilton, Warwickshire in July and August 2009 (see
Incidents) has
pleaded guilty to two charges of robbery and two of possessing an
imitation firearm. Robert Smith has
been sentenced to ten years in prison.
News Shopper,
1 December 2009 *
Thomas Scott has admitted a
pub shooting in Greenwich, south east London, in which two men and
a woman received gunshot wounds. The attack occurred in February
2009 (see Incidents).
He pleaded guilty to two counts of wounding with intent and one court of
causing grievous bodily harm and also admitted having a firearm with
intent, possessing ammunition without a firearms certificate and
possessing a shotgun without a
certificate. He has been sentenced to 17 years in jail (Press
Association, 15 January 2010).
News Shopper,
1 December 2009 *
Dwight Callender and his
brother Derrell have each been sentenced to 35 years in jail after running
down a teenager who was then shot and stabbed. The attack occurred
in New Cross, south London, in April 2009 and the victim remains in
a coma and is not expected to survive. Following an argument the men
drove their van towards another man but instead hit his friend who
was eventually crushed against railings where members of the brothers'
gang shot him in the buttocks with a shotgun.
The two men were found guilty of attempted murder. Since the trial
the 19-year-old victim has died (News Shopper, 8 January 2010).
Cambridge News,
1 December 2009
Three people appeared in court
accused of firearms offences following a police investigation into a house
in Eaton Socon, Cambridgeshire, allegedly used for drug
trafficking. Powerful air rifles,
including two which would have needed firearms certificates, were found by
police. Tony Chalkley admitted possessing a gun without a
certificate and possessing it while prohibited because of a previous
conviction and was jailed for 10 months. Thomas Roberts admitted
possessing the guns without a licence and was fined £250. Chalkley's
partner was given a community order with 120 hours of unpaid work.
It was claimed that the weapons had belonged to one of Chalkley's brothers
who had died and were being passed on to another brother.
BBC,
1 December 2009
A
shotgun was among items recovered during police raids to
prevent crime in Kent. The weapon was found at a property in
Gravesend.
BBC,
1 December 2009
A gun was fired and what is
believed to be CS gas was let off in a jewellers in Milton Keynes
after two robbers entered the premises. An adult and a child were
taken to hospital suffering from the effects of the gas. Both were
later released. Other people received treatment at the scene.
Three men questioned by the police have been released without charge (BBC,
2 December 2009). The shots fired were later found to be blanks.
Police are linking the robbery to a group from Eastern Europe behind 26
similar raids (MK News, 8 December 2009).
The Argus,
1 December 2009
David Sheehan has pleaded
guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence after
an incident at Gatwick Airport in July 2009 (see
Incidents).
The weapon is reported to have been an imitation
gun (This is Sussex, 6 December 2009). He
will be sentenced next month.
SCOTLAND
Scotsman,
26 December 2009
A
shotgun, licence and ammunition were among items found on
trains during the year. The gun was left on a London to
Glasgow train during the summer by a man thought to be going on a
shooting trip.
BBC,
23 December 2009 *
Anthony Moran has admitted
being involved in a £24,000 robbery on security guards at a petrol station
in Newmains, Lanarkshire, in July 2009 (see
Incidents). He was arrested after
trying to use some of the stolen cash covered with security dye. Two
other men, who were armed with a handgun were involved in the robbery and
Moran drove the getaway car. The
weapon was later found to be an airgun.
Moran was jailed for five years and three months (BBC, 18 January
2010).
Press Association,
20 December 2009
A number of
air weapons, including a replica AK47
rifle, were taken from a parked vehicle in Dalkeith, Midlothian.
Evening News,
18 December 2009
Artis Skangalis has pleaded
guilty to committing a breach of the peace by discharging an imitation
firearm causing fear and alarm. In an incident which took place on a
public footpath in Edinburgh in September 2006 when he fired an
air pistol. A couple walking
along the footpath heard a "popping sound" and sensed something flying
past their heads. Skangalis told police he had been firing at a bus
stop. He has been sentenced to 200 hours community service.
Galloway News,
17 December 2009
Firefighters had to face
exploding ammunition as they battled a blaze at a house in Carsluith,
Wigtownshire. The fire penetrated a metal gun cabinet in the
workshop garage at the house.
BBC,
17 December 2009
A man has been arrested over
an alleged firearm incident which happened in Castlebay on the
island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides. The arrest followed reports
from members of the public that a man was carrying a gun. He is
alleged to have threatened to shoot police officers with an
air rifle. He faces two charges
relating to this and a further charge of having the rifle with intent to
commit robbery.
Daily Record,
16 December 2009
An elderly woman and her dog
were marched 200 yards to a police van by officers during an armed
response after her ball thrower had been mistaken for a
shotgun. The incident occurred in a
park in Giffnock, Lanarkshire.
Greenock Telegraph,
15 December 2009
A .38 Webley revolver was
seized by police as part of a major operation targeted at drug dealers in
Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire.
BBC,
15 December 2009
Two members of staff were tied
up and threatened by two men who entered a convenience store in
Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire. The men threatened the two women
with what appeared to be a gun and fled with a four-figure sum of cash and
cigarettes.
Teletext,
13 December 2009
A
replica handgun was among items seized in raids in Shetland,
Orkney, Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross in
a bid to catch drug dealers.
BBC,
10 December 2009
A man threatened a female
member of staff at the post office in Toryglen, Glasgow, with what
appeared to be a handgun. No cash was handed over and the man fled
empty-handed.
Kirkintilloch Herald,
9 December 2009
A street in Bishopbriggs,
East Dunbartonshire, was cordoned off by police after a tip-off that a
gunman was in the area. No one was arrested and no firearms
recovered.
Evening Express,
9 December 2009
Neil Cameron and Gary Masson,
both 19, have admitted repeatedly firing a
ball-bearing gun in a play park in Oldmeldrum,
Aberdeenshire, in August 2009. Several member of the public were
frightened by the incident.
Paisley Daily Express,
7 December 2009
Robert Stewart carried out two
armed robberies at the same fast food restaurant in Paisley.
In June 2009 (see Incidents)
he threatened staff with a replica revolver
and demanded money and then returned and repeated the crime in July 2009.
He was tailed to his home by members of the public who alerted the police.
He admitted the assault and robbery charges and was jailed for four years.
Evening Express,
7 December 2009
Stuart Roger, 17, recklessly
fired shots from an air rifle in
Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, in April 2009. It was claimed he put
people in danger as a result and he was charged with culpably and
recklessly discharging the airgun. He had been carrying out target
practice in his garden when the shot "deflected". He admitted the
charge and will be sentenced later.
BBC,
7 December 2009
Paul Prior has admitted
threatening security guards with an imitation
handgun during two robberies in Shawlands, Glasgow, in
April 2008 (see Incidents)
and October 2008 (see Incidents).
He stole £34,000. He has been jailed for six years and five months.
stv,
4 December 2009 *
Scott Slavin, 17, walked into
a corner shop in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, in February 2009 armed
with the hatchet and a BB gun and
demanded cash. The shopkeeper refused to hand over any money and
snatched the axe. Slavin admitted brandishing an axe and handgun and
demanding money with intent to rob. He has been sentenced to two
years and four months (stv, 19 January 2010).
Evening Telegraph & Post,
2 December 2009 *
Stewart Blackburn, 18, who was
found guilty of murdering his girlfriend by pouring petrol over her and
setting fire to her at their flat in Arbroath in April 2009 (see
Incidents) was also
found guilty of pointing an air rifle
at two men repeatedly pulling the trigger and placing them in a state of
fear and alarm. He has been given a life sentence and must serve at
least 21 years (Evening Telegraph & Post,
5 January 2010).
BBC,
1 December 2009
A man threatened a female
staff member at a bookmakers in Bothwell, South Lanarkshire, with
what appeared to be a gun. He made off with a three-figure sum of
cash.
WALES
News Wales,
30 December 2009
Three men demanded money from
staff at a convenience store in Llysfaen, North Wales, and
threatened them with weapons, believed to be a handgun and a knife.
The men left with a quantity of cash from the till. Five men were
later arrested and released on police bail.
County Times,
21 December 2009
A youth from a school in
Kerry, Powys, accused a shooting a fellow student with a
ball bearing gun will be invited to
return to class after Christmas. He shot at a group of students as
they were leaving the school in October 2009. Police dismissed the
case owing to lack of evidence. The headteacher has written to
parents to say that he was "very surprised and shocked by this conclusion"
but he has no choice but to invite the student back to school.
Daily Post,
18 December 2009
The stained glass windows of a
church in Minera, Clwyd, have been damaged, probably by somebody
who shot at it with an air rifle.
A replacement could cost hundreds of pounds. A Christmas was also
stolen from the church.
This is South Wales,
16 December 2009
An
airgun and a trident were recovered by police during drugs
raids in Swansea. Two people were arrested.
This is South Wales,
2 December 2009
Three students caught with a
Taser gun in a nightclub in Swansea
have all admitted possessing the weapon. Narmel Ouladsi, Mohammed
Abaza and Abdelkader Drissi were all visiting the UK from France.
They were each fined £50 with costs but will not have to pay the fine as
they spent two days in custody after being arrested.
INCIDENTS INVOLVING ANIMALS
Milton Keynes Citizen,
31 December 2009
A heron who is well know in
Haversham, Buckinghamshire, has been left paralysed in an
airgun attack. Two pellets were
lodged in his spine. He has been treated with painkillers, steroids
and operated on to remove one of the pellets but the other one is
dangerously close to the spine. Youths had been spotted firing an
air rifle in the area where the heron lived.
BBC,
31 December 2009
Three men, two of them
teenagers, have been arrested on suspicion of poaching after they were
found driving in a van containing three dead deer in Penkridge,
Staffordshire. The police found a modified
air rifle with a gas cylinder and silencer and three hunting
knives.
Wandsworth Guardian,
24 December 2009
A cat may lose the sight of
his eye after being shot with a pellet gun
in Putney, south west London. He was found under a bed with
blood pouring from his eye.
Press Association,
24 December 2009
Two young cats have been
injured in an airgun attack in a
residential street in Kirkcaldy, Fife. One lost an eye after
being shot in the middle of the head and the another was shot in the
shoulder.
BBC,
22 December 2009
Five men have been arrested on
suspicion of carrying out offences under the Deer Act 1991 and a large
number of guns seized during a crackdown on poaching in Sussex. The
arrested men were from Heathfield, Robertsbridge and
Ninfield.
BBC,
21 December 2009
A pet cat has been injured by
an air rifle pellet in Stockton
Heath, Warrington, Cheshire. He was hit in the back and the
pellet lodged between his throat and spine. Surgery was needed to
remove the pellet and he has been left with a limp.
Tottenham, Wood Green &
Edmonton Journal,
17 December 2009
A pet cat was killed and
another injured after being shot at with airguns
in South Tottenham, north London.
Newham Recorder,
16 December 2009
The East London paper
has reported that a cat believed to have been shot with an
air rifle has had his leg broken in five
places and suffered a broken hip. He may have to have his leg
amputated.
BBC,
9 December 2009
A red kite has been found shot
and badly injured on the outskirts of Braco, Perthshire.
X-rays revealed the bird had a broken wing and five
shotgun pellets lodged in its body. The bird is now being
looked after by the Scottish SPCA wildlife rescue centre.
