A man who was seen carrying a gun after threatening to shoot his girlfriend will be sentenced next month after a jury found him guilty of having a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
Daniel Mitson accused Rosie Wardley of cheating on him and told her that if he saw her in Brandon he would get his gun, Ipswich Crown Court heard.
Simon Gladwell, prosecuting, told the court that Mitson and Miss Wardley had been in a relationship for about four years and had two children.
On April 4, the couple went out and Mitson was in a bad mood after losing £100 at a betting shop. When the pair returned home Mitson allegedly threw a can of drink at Miss Wardley’s face, causing a red mark on her lip.
Miss Wardley left the house and when she saw Mitson in Brandon High Street soon afterwards, he reacted to her refusal to give him a key to their house by kicking in a shop window, said Mr Gladwell.
“Two men who saw the incident offered to walk Miss Wardley home and when she saw Mitson later he accused her of cheating on him with the two men.”
The court was told that the following day, Mitson bought a BB gun from a stall in Bury St Edmunds and, during another argument on April 6, Mitson told her: “I’ll find you and those two guys and put bullets in all of you.” He had called her later on her mobile telephone and said: “Make sure you aren’t in Brandon because if I see you I’ll get my gun.”
Mr Gladwell said, the police were called and while officers were with Miss Wardley, they saw Mitson in Brandon holding a black handgun by his side. Mitson ran off and was detained in Brandon High Street after an officer pointed a Taser at him. The handgun was found six feet away from him and a gas cylinder, which officers believed came from the gun, was found in his pocket.
Mitson, 20, of St John’s Close, Mildenhall, denied common assault on Miss Wardley and possessing a firearm with intent to cause Miss Wardley to believe that unlawful violence would be used against her.
He was cleared of the common assault but was found guilty of the firearm offence. Sentence was adjourned until next month for a pre-sentence report when Mitson will also be sentenced for criminal damage to the shop window, which he admitted.
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