Man admits firing gun after road rage

A MAN fired a gun in the air and pointed it at his victim, following a road rage incident in an Ipswich street, a court heard.

Shaun Dobell threatened Christopher Chittock with a baseball bat then said: "Do you know who I am? I have guns and I will come back and shoot you."

Mark Norman, prosecuting at Ipswich Crown Court, said the incident began on April 21 when Mr Chittock's car collided with Andrew Lawrence's vehicle in Burrell Road.

"There was a bit of road rage and Mr Lawrence went to an address in Burrell Road where the defendant lived," said Mr Norman.

The court heard that Mr Lawrence told his friend Dobell, 23, what had happened.

Dobell picked up a baseball bat and went round to confront Mr Chittock who lives a few doors away, and said: "What do you think you are doing, starting on my mate?"

Mr Chittock's brother Andrew then appeared with another baseball bat.

Dobell threatened to shoot them, and went home only to return to their house carrying an 8mm blank firing pistol. Mr Norman said Dobell fired it twice in the air then aimed it at Christopher Chittock.

Mr Norman said: "He was frightened for his life."

Simon Spence, mitigating, said Dobell, now of Kestrel Road, "finds it difficult to believe he has behaved in this way, he is remorseful and ashamed." He said Dobell had a history of being bullied and now feared for his safety.

He said Dobell decided wrongly to take control of the situation in this way.

Dobell, of previous good character, pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm with intent to put in fear of violence. A charge of making a threat to kill and possessing an offensive weapon were to remain on file.

Judge John Devaux said: "The offence clearly crosses the custodial threshold." But because of the mitigating circumstances Dobell was ordered to do unpaid work instead of a prison sentence.

Dobell was told to do 200 hours' community service and pay £740 towards court costs.