Brian Hoyle admitted possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence after a group of women and girls laughed when their dog fouled outside his Hull home
A furious pensioner brandished a pistol at a group of women and girls after they giggled when their dog made a mess on the grass outside his bungalow.
Brian Hoyle, once a “very skilled marksman”, was heard yelling “Why do you let your dog s*** on my lawn?” before discharging the silver weapon. The women and youngsters were left “in a state of shock” when they suddenly heard what they believed was a bullet striking a nearby garage shutter, Hull Crown Court was told.
Hoyle, 73, of Spring Bank West, Hull, pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence on April 14 last year.
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Holly Thompson, prosecuting, told the court that a woman and her daughter were heading to the local shops at around 6pm. Accompanying them were the woman’s two daughters, aged 18 and 16, along with a dog. The group passed Hoyle’s home, as he was their neighbour. He was sat in his garden with his wife.
The dog fouled near Hoyle’s property and the group began laughing, reports Hull Live. Hoyle bellowed: “Why do you let your dog s*** on my lawn?” The group spotted a “silver metallic object” resting on his lap.
The women cleared up after the dog, apparently using a carrier bag, and continued walking past his property. They were planning to cross the road to dispose of the bag in a bin. “They heard what they believed was, and the prosecution say was, a bullet hitting a garage shutter across the road,” Miss Thompson stated.
Hoyle refuted claims that he fired the pellet-using air pistol, insisting he was simply “degassing” it – though prosecutors rejected this explanation.
The women were left “in a state of shock” and, moments later, heard the identical sound once more. “They started walking down the street quickly to escape the scene,” Miss Thompson told the court. Officers were called and attended Hoyle’s residence. When he opened his front door, they determined he presented no immediate danger to them.
A search of his property uncovered two weapons – a large silver John Wayne revolver, complete with ammunition, and a black machine pistol, also loaded.
Hoyle subsequently declared: “I am guilty. I have shot some b*****d. I’ll tell you what. I’m going to get him. See you in 20 years. I have shot someone.” He afterwards maintained that his comments were “all bull” as he’d been drunk at the time. He stated he’d discharged the weapon five times in succession whilst “degassing” it.
One victim later revealed she’d been left feeling anxious following Hoyle’s actions and remained concerned about his potential future conduct.
The woman’s mother explained that, initially, she felt extremely distressed and frightened, but following Hoyle’s arrest, there’d been a marked shift in his demeanour – he appeared to have reflected on his behaviour and transformed into a “much nicer man”. David Godfrey, mitigating, highlighted that Hoyle had no prior convictions and had been a diligent worker who’d previously been employed as a printer. “He is a good guy,” Mr Godfrey stated.
“He has contributed robustly to society. He has done a very foolish thing. Back in the day, he was a very skilled marksman. He took part in competitions in Europe with air weapons, something he had a passion for in the past.”
He retained the two firearms as mementos. Hoyle admitted guilt at the earliest opportunity. He maintained that there had been “some antisocial behaviour with dogs fouling on his lawn” previously. “That doesn’t minimise or excuse what he has done,” said Mr Godfrey. “He wishes to God that he had never taken the pistol outside, something he wishes had never happened.”
Hoyle received a nine-month suspended prison sentence, with no conditions attached. He was also handed a five-year restraining order.
