Man Jailed after Firearms Incidents
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A man has been jailed after two incidents involving firearms discharges in the Durham and Stockton areas.
Jack Walker, aged 30, from west Northampton, was sentenced to a total of 12 years and six months in prison at Teesside Crown Court today (Thursday 31st October).
Earlier this year, on 29th March, Walker used a stolen car to travel from Northampton to Staindrop in County Durham where a number of gun shots were fired at a residential property, where the occupants including a young child were inside.
Thankfully, they were unharmed.
Later, the stolen vehicle used in the incident was located in Cleveland and a live grenade found inside, which was safely destroyed by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team.
On 12th April, Walker again used another stolen car to travel to Thornaby, where a property on Shetland Avenue was targeted and gun shots fired into a property, where the occupants were missed by a matter of inches. Fortunately no one was physically hurt.
The Audi used in the incident was located burnt out in Billingham later the same day (pictured below).
*** Jack Walker is now beginning a lengthy prison sentence ***
Working closely with Durham Police, Walker was charged in connection with the incidents later that month and pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and assisting an offender.
Temporary Detective Sergeant Rob Griffiths said: “These incidents clearly took a great deal of planning with dangerous weapons and stolen vehicles being sourced, along with measures to try to evade detection.
“The extensive investigation resulted in identifying those suspected to be involved, stolen vehicles recovered and prohibited weapons recovered and destroyed.
“Firearms are extremely dangerous weapons which can clearly cause serious harm or worse, death, and it was only by luck on both occasions that someone wasn’t seriously hurt.
“Today’s sentencing is welcomed and reflets the severity of the incidents and highlights the consequences of being in possession of a firearm. Jack Walker will spend a number of years reflecting on his actions and I would encourage others who are involved in such criminality to consider the consequences of engaging in it.
“The impact of these incidents extends beyond the victims and the effects are felt on whole communities. I hope today's sentencing provides reassurance to those communities and sends a clear message to those who commit such serious and dangerous offences that we will thoroughly investigate and bring those responsible to justice.”
Detective Constable Victoria Patrickson, said: “These two incidents saw a dangerous gunman attend residential addresses in both Durham and Cleveland. On the first occasion the bullets passed straight through the front door with one bullet was found lodged in a vacuum cleaner and another found wedged in an internal wall.
“On the second occasion two rounds of ammunition were again fired into a residential property, where a bullet was recovered from the media wall in the living room.
“The investigation team have successfully brought a dangerous offender to justice. Let this be a warning to others that the criminal use of firearms will not be tolerated.”
Two women, aged 31 and 30, and a 31-year-old man from Northampton, along with a 17-year-old boy from Billingham, have been released from police bail.