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Pensioner Fires Pistol Over Dog Mess, Faces Court
7 Mar
Summary
- Elderly man brandished a pistol at women and girls after their dog fouled his lawn.
- He fired the weapon, believed to be a pellet pistol, near the frightened group.
- The man received a suspended prison sentence and a restraining order.
An angry pensioner, Brian Hoyle, 73, faced court after brandishing a pistol at a group of women and girls. The incident occurred last year when their dog fouled the grass outside his home. Hoyle, who was once a skilled marksman, yelled at the group before discharging a silver weapon.
The women and youngsters were left in shock, believing they heard a bullet strike a garage shutter. Hoyle claimed he was merely 'degassing' the pellet-using air pistol, a defense rejected by prosecutors. Officers responding to the scene discovered two firearms, including a revolver and a machine pistol, loaded at his residence.
Hoyle pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. During the incident, he made concerning remarks but later attributed them to being drunk. The victims reported feeling anxious following the event. Hoyle received a nine-month suspended prison sentence and a five-year restraining order.
