Jason Anderson from Brandon, Suffolk admits shotgun offence

A pellet from the gun fired by Jason Anderson struck Mark Smith, who was in his living room, on the hip causing an injury, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Anderson, of Riverside Way, Brandon had pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder Mr Smith, attempted grievous bodily harm with intent and possessing a shotgun with intent to cause fear of violence on December 12 last year and a trial got underway earlier this week.

However, on Thursday Anderson changed his plea on the possession of a shotgun with intent to cause fear of violence charge to guilty and admitted a new charge of unlawfully wounding Mr Smith.

Azza Brown, prosecuting, said the pleas to those two offences were acceptable and she was no longer seeking a trial on the attempted murder and attempted grievous bodily harm with intent charges.

Judge Martyn Levett adjourned sentence until September 4 to allow the probation service to write a pre-sentence report which will address the issue of dangerousness.

He remanded Anderson in custody and warned him the offences he’d admitted were serious and he was facing a lengthy prison sentence.

The court heard that since the incident guns found at Anderson’s home had been seized and his firearms’ certificate had been revoked.

The court heard that police were called to a property in High Street in Brandon after a man in his 40s called police and reported he had been shot in the leg.

Prior to the shooting, Mr Smith and Anderson, who were work colleagues, had spent the evening drinking together at Mr Smith’s home before Anderson left the property after an argument.

Anderson had later returned with a loaded shotgun and had "stupidly" fired it into the living room, which was in darkness, through a patio door intending to frighten Mr Smith, said Matthew McNiff, for Anderson.

Mr McNiff said Anderson accepted firing the gun into the dark room was reckless.

"He didn’t intend to cause really serious harm and there was no intention to murder," said Mr McNiff.