Suicide Window Cleaner Sentenced

When the 10-bore shotgun was examined, it was found to be in a "poor condition overall" but capable of discharging cartridges. He purchased the weapon, only to discover that due to its condition, realised he had effectively "bought a dud''.

Man given 3½ year sentence for possession of antique gun: A man bought shotgun to take his life but the weapon did not work, court told. A Co Down man was yesterday given a 3½-year prison sentence after police found an antique shotgun and ammunition in his van.

Christopher John Digney, from Struell Heights in Downpatrick, bought the shotgun for £600 in a bid to take his own life but the weapon was in such poor condition that it did not work, Downpatrick Crown Court heard. Judge Brian Sherrard told Digney he was dividing his sentence between 11 months in custody and 25 months on licence. However, as Digney (34) had spent 337 days on remand, he yesterday walked free from court because of his time served in custody.

Crown prosecutor Laura Ivers said the shotgun was discovered in the back of a van inside a locked attaché case at Digney’s then address in Strangford, Co Down, on October 28th, 2014, two days after he purchased the weapon. Also recovered from the van were shotgun cartridges, an imitation weapon and a black balaclava.

Ms Ivers said the Crown could not gainsay Digney’s intent, adding there was no evidence to suggest the items were used for criminal offences. Defence barrister Eugene Grant QC said the incident occurred at a time when Digney, a self-employed window cleaner, was going through difficulties in his personal life, including the demise of a long-term relationship with the mother of his children, which resulted in depression and suicidal thoughts.

Mr Grant also spoke of the effect the death of a child Digney had when he was 17 had on him throughout his adult life. The barrister told the court his client’s intention of possessing the shotgun was to take his life. He bought the weapon, only to discover that he could not fire it. Mr Grant also told the court there was “no sinister purpose” for the balaclava, as it was part of the protective clothing Digney wore for industrial cleaning work. Judge Sherrard said he accepted Digney was suffering from a “number of stressors” .

Choice of Weapon - Fence Panel

Choice of weapon - Fence panel 

Window cleaner who used a fence panel to attack his friend is sent to prison for six months: The victim of a bottling attack, who then assaulted another man, has been jailed for six months. Window cleaner Thomas Phillips was left covered in blood after being slashed over the head and shoulders, Bristol Crown Court heard. But he then attacked Joseph Youhill with a fence panel, as Mr Youhill screamed: "I haven't done anything!"

Phillips, 26, of Locking Road, Weston-super-Mare, pleaded guilty to affray in August last year. Judge Julian Lambert told him: "The offence of affray is directed at the protection of the public. "It was a wild, wild scene. It was very grave disorder and it would have been terrifying for people watching this."

Neil Treharne, prosecuting, said in August last year police responded to a report of a fight in progress at the rear of Courtenay Walk, Weston-super-Mare. Officers arrived to find a topless Phillips covered in blood, having been stabbed by a broken bottle, the court was told. Police spoke to witnesses who saw Phillips being struck, and how Phillips was kicking another man on the ground and struck him with fence panel.

Phillips told police he had been out drinking and was "six out of ten drunk". He said Mr Youhill was also drunk, they argued and there was some pushing and shoving. He said he was then bottled and he went into "defence mode", utilising the fence panel as a weapon.

Phillips had seven previous convictions for 15 offences, including public order and battery as a juvenile and two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Farah Rashid, defending, said: "He comes to court ready, knowing the likelihood of receiving an immediate custodial sentence."

Miss Rashid urged the judge to give her client credit for a timely guilty plea. She said it was "cloudy" as to how and where trouble started, and who was involved. Miss Rashid said: "He fully accepts he was violent. He picked up this fence panel and hit it at his friend after he had been stabbed."