A man said to be out of his mind on drink and drugs shot an air rifle out of his flat window and hit three people who were celebrating New Year’s Eve.
Mold Crown Court heard one man received potentially life-threatening injuries and needed emergency surgery following the incident in Machynlleth.
David Keith Cornell, 27, of Pentrerhedyn, Machynlleth, was jailed for five years today after he admitted wounding with intent and two charges of attempted wounding with intent, together with a charge of possessing the Turkish-made .22 air rifle with telescopic sights with intent to cause fear of violence.
Judge Niclas Parry told him his behaviour on December 31 “beggars belief” and said it could have resulted in death.
A lead pellet from the gun made its way between the ribs of one victim and towards his lung.
“If the lung had been penetrated then he could have died,” said Judge Parry.
“This was a terrifying incident on a busy night.”
The court heard Cornell had a bad record for violence, but had pleaded guilty and co-operated with police.
Prosecutor Emmalyne Downing said Ryan Briwant-Evans was out celebrating New Year’s Eve and, as he was making his way past the clock tower, he felt a sharp pain to his ribs.
He did not know what it was and, when he got to a pub, he realised he was bleeding.
The victim initially thought he had been shot with a BB gun and, as he returned to the scene, he saw the defendant’s window was open and was the only one which had a light on.
He spoke to Mark Evans and Phil Roberts about what had happened and, as Mark Evans rang the police, he was also shot to the lower back.
Mr Roberts also felt a sharp pain to the body.
The defendant was seen in the window and, after an exchange, he came downstairs and there was a scuffle.
Mr Briwant-Evans did not want to get involved, and went to sit on a nearby bench to await the police.
The court heard he had pain in his chest, and found it difficult to breathe and painful to sit down.
The victim was rushed to hospital when it was realised he was bleeding internally.
He later said the surgeon told him that, if the lead pellet had been deeper or more to the left, he could have died.
There was also a danger of lead poisoning, and he spent three days in hospital attached to a chest drain.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Briwant-Evans said being shot was “agonising” and the worst pain he had ever felt.
He said he found it hard to sit down, breathe or sleep.
Oliver King, defending, said: “If you fire three times at three different people, there must be an intention to cause serious harm.”
He said Cornell was contrite and ashamed and his remorse was genuine.
The court heard the gun was not a prohibited firearm, and Cornell had held it legally and used it to shoot rabbits.
Mr King said his client had used it to shoot at people before, but they were “fooling around” and all they suffered was bruising.
Cornell had previous convictions but none involving weapons.
There was no pre-planning and he had fired the weapon without thinking of the possible consequences, said Mr King.
see-http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/machynlleth-gunman-out-mind-drink-11276961
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