Advertisement

Man jailed after firing air rifle into Swansea street as pub-goers run for cover

Richard Wilcockson (South Wales Police)
Richard Wilcockson (South Wales Police)

A man who had 130 previous offences has been jailed after firing a lethal air rifle from a window.

Richard Wilcockson has been imprisoned for 32 months following the incident close to a Swansea pub.

The 47-year-old fired several pellets across a busy street.

He was only spotted when a customer at the pub stepped outside for a cigarette and heard a “popping noise”, which he recognised as an air gun.

The customer then spotted WIlcockson at a window with a 0.22 weapon.

He ran inside to tell the landlord who then locked the doors of the pub and armed officers were called.

The incident took place outside the White Swan pub in Swansea (Google)
The incident took place outside the White Swan pub in Swansea (Google)

It was revealed that the gun used by Wilcockson had previously been seized by police in a different incident but later returned because of a lack of evidence.

Among Wilcockson’s other offences was breaking an ASBO order after being banned from being drunk in a public place, and being drunk and disorderly anywhere in Swansea.

Wilcockson had also sworn at drivers while drunk, threw a beer can at a woman pushing a pram as well as pointing a toy gun at people.

The court heard he had a total of 78 convictions for 132 offences including an attempted robbery more than 20 years ago.

His defence counsel said his client ‘clearly has an issue’ with toy guns and knives, but argued that while his actions had been ‘extremely dangerous and risky’, no one had been hurt.

Judge Geraint Walters said: “It seems you are either unwilling or incapable of sticking to the (ASBO) order, the purpose of which was to protect the public from your antisocial behaviour. ‘It is concerning in the extreme.”

---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK---