Reclusive pensioner who shot burglar dead escaped murder charge because 'trouble came to him', court hears

A pensioner who shot dead a burglar was told by a court he escaped a murder charge because “trouble came to him”.

Reuben Gregory, 72, could still face jail, however, after pleading guilty to possession of a double-barrelled shotgun without a licence.

Mr Gregory who lives a frugal existence in a caravan with his sister Kathleen killed the intruder after being woken in the night by her screams.

The pair, who live in countryisde close to Slough in Berkshire, desperately tried to fight the intruders off. Ms Gregory armed herself with a knife, before Gregory fired a double-barrelled shotgun through the caravan door.

Wayne Digby, 48, was hit in the chest and died at the scene on June 12, while his alleged accomplice Anthony Hearn was also injured.

Gregory was initially held on suspicion of murder but was never charged after the Crown Prosecution Service deemed he was acting in self-defence.

But yesterday he pleaded guilty to having a firearm without a certificate when he appeared at East Berkshire Magistrates’ Court in Slough.

Umar Khan, his lawyer told the court: “He fully accepts that he kept the weapon without a certificate - in this case rather tragically it was used to kill a man.

“The Crown Prosecution Service has considered the circumstances and found he did act in lawful self-defence.

“He didn’t want this trouble, he lives a frugal lifestyle, he and his sister - trouble came to him.”

The possession charge carries a maximum sentence of fives years’ imprisonment, the court was told.

Police allegedly found a wooden mallet, cable ties, a bottle of bleach, a funnel and bolt crimpers in a bag lying near Mr Digby’s body.

Officers discovered a plastic bottle full of an accelerant and a tennis ball full of flammable liquid and stuffed with a rag inside the caravan, the court was told.

Gregory will be sentenced at Reading Crown Court at a date yet to be set.

His sister accompanied him to court and followed proceedings from the public gallery.

Magistrate Martin Savage

Magistrate Martin Savage told Gregory: “This is a complex case with very tragic events.

“You knew you needed to have a shotgun certificate, you continued to keep this working weapon in your possession, loaded and specifically for self-defence.

“As a result of that you actually took a man’s life.”

Gregory went to get help after the shooting and dialled 999 from a mobile phone borrowed from a neighbour, telling police that “a gang” had tried to break in.

He later told officers: “Yes I’m the one who’s done it mate, I’ve been attacked at the caravan.”

Armed police were sent to the scene and found Mr Digby’s body around 100 metres from the caravan.

Gregory told officers that he bought the shotgun in the 1980s for self-defence after his family was targeted in a previous break-in.

He claims he had tried to get a certificate for the weapon but had been refused because the caravan was not deemed to be a secure place to keep a firearm.

Gregory and his sister have lived a frugal life in the caravan, accessible only by a footpath, since the 1960s.

They have no mains electricity, no water supply or access to a landline or mobile phone.

Hearn is due to stand trial on 27 November at Reading Crown Court, charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary.