Published date: 29 January 2016 |
A MAN who staged a siege at his Wrexham home after he was seen firing a shotgun realised how stupid he had been, his lawyer told a court.
Matthew Mackenzie, 26, was jailed for two years and four months yesterday after he admitted having a loaded single barrelled shotgun in public and possessing it while prohibited on December 16.
Mold Crown Court heard there had been a number of undercover police officers on the Caia Park estate as part of another investigation.
They were shocked to see MacKenzie walk through the estate carrying the rifle openly without any attempt to hide it.
At that stage, it was unloaded and he was seen to point the gun at a group of young men.
They appeared startled and began to run off but when they realised it was the defendant they were filmed looking at the gun with him, prosecutor Richard Edwards said.
However, he loaded it and then “casually” fired it at some trees, scattering birds, at a grassed area surrounded by houses.
Armed police went to his home at Coed Aben where there was a stand-off and he came to the door holding part of the gun, which by that stage had been dismantled.
He also held knives to his throat.
The judge, Mr Recorder Simon Mills, said he had acquired the stolen gun that day, along with a single cartridge, to shoot vermin but saw the group of youths on the way home as he carried the weapon openly on the estate.
“Unbeknown to you, there were undercover police officers on the estate relating to another operation in that area,” he said.
One of the youths realised he did not intend them any harm. They appeared excited with the weapon as he showed it off.
It may have been bravado, the judge said, but as he walked off he fired it in a rather casual and gratuitous way, thankfully not causing any danger to members of the public.
He then “broke” the gun and walked home when he began to attract the attention of other people.
When police arrived he acted in “an utterly petulant and pathetic way” but the judge commented that he also put himself at considerable risk in the circumstances.
At that stage the gun had been dismantled, he had no ammunition and the incident fortunately ended without anyone being hurt.
A sentence was needed to mark the public concern about such offences and to deter others, Mr Recorder Mills said.
He added Mackenzie was a man with a bad record, including robbery and wounding. The court heard extra police were drafted in and the area was cordoned off and evacuated.
After negotiations he later left the house voluntarily and was arrested.
Paul Abrahams, defending, said his client accepted that the possession of the weapon was unlawful.
He said the surveillance officers were present for a completely unrelated matter which had nothing to do with his client.
“I find it difficult to put into words the complete stupidity of his actions, walking down the road holding that gun,” he said.
Fortunately, he did not injure anyone and realised how he had he had put himself in real danger.
He had adopted a pragmatic approach and knew he was going to prison, he was taking it on the chin and would ask for as much mercy as he could from the court.
“He knows he has been completely stupid,” Mr Abraham said.
Following the sentence Det Chief Insp Neil Harrison, of North Wales Police, said: “This was a serious incident where a shotgun was discharged in the middle of a housing estate, placing members of the public in danger. McKenzie had complete disregard for the safety of his own community and following the incident had a stand-off with police for several hours.
“The incident only came to light as a result of McKenzie being seen with the gun by officers. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the incident and the fear that it caused within the community.
“It is vital the community report matters to the police so that those causing the greatest harm are dealt with and to ensure the public remain safe.”
see-http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/157930/caia-park-shotgun-siege-man-jailed-for-two-years-and-four-months.aspx
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