Gun incidents in Great Britain

The wreck of a Bristol Beaufighter plane that crashed in 1944 has been uncovered on Cleethorpes Beach, East Lincolnshire. Coastguards have advised the public not to approach the site as the remnants contain a “large number” of live 20/30mm cannon rounds that could possibly explode. A Coastguard social media post said, “The wreckage has been uncovered a number of times over the years, exposing the payload of ammunition. A lot of it has been successfully destroyed by the EOD teams, but this time, the tides, wind, and currents have exposed the wreckage more than normal.”

Armed police officers were deployed after an elderly man allegedly entered a pharmacy in Wootton Bridge, Isle of Wight while armed with a gun. Following a search, the officers arrested the man on suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

An injured stray cat, taken in by an RSPCA centre in Martlesham, Suffolk, was found to have been shot with a suspected BB gun. X-rays revealed that pellets had lodged in his chest and legs.

A teenage boy was treated in hospital for serious injuries after being shot in the back in a wooded area of Corby, Northamptonshire. Police are treating the attack as a targeted incident. A man has since been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Police officers responded after one of a group of youths allegedly waved a BB gun at a tram stop in Wythenshawe, Manchester, alarming members of the public. One boy was arrested on suspicion of possession of an imitation firearm.

Joe Cordon, 29, Jack Spackman, 25, and Kyle Worthington, 21, have been jailed for six years and eight months, six years and five-and-a-half years, respectively, following a violent attack in Stoke, Staffordshire. In March 2023, in revenge for a near-miss with a bin lorry, Cordon punched a refuse collector in the face. The victim was treated in hospital for injuries to the head face and foot. Shortly afterwards, the three offenders carried out an attack on a second bin lorry, with Worthington firing shots at the vehicle, while Cordon and Spackman damaged windows with an axe and sledgehammer. Three men were injured during the onslaught. Cordon admitted wounding with intent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, criminal damage, driving without the proper licence and using a vehicle without insurance. Worthington was sentenced for conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and firearm possession meant to instil fear of violence and Spackman admitted conspiring to inflict grievous bodily harm with intent, carrying an offensive weapon in public and criminal damage.

Armed police officers were deployed following a report of a man with a suspected gun in Radstock, Somerset. A man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm and two suspected air rifles were seized.

As part of an ongoing operation, armed police officers were deployed to support the search of properties in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. One man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to possess a firearm.

Police officers responded to reports of an altercation in Hartlepool, Co. Durham. A man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of possession of Class A, B & C drugs, possession of a bladed article in a public place and possession of a firearm (a Taser).

Andrew Peacock, aged 45 and from Richmond, North Yorkshire, has been handed a suspended 20-week prison term and a criminal behaviour order after pleading guilty to breaching an existing court order, misusing the communications network to inconvenience the police and ambulance service, possessing an air weapon when prohibited and possessing a Class A drug. Following sentencing, a police spokesperson said, “Peacock’s persistent criminal and anti-social behaviour has caused significant harassment, alarm and distress to members of the public – and his misuse of the 999 system has resulted in huge inconvenience to the emergency services.”