Gunman bought rifle 'to be cool' - Air rifle shooter played violent games
THE man who shot a council worker in the shoulder with an air rifle was a fan of a violent computer game who thought owning the weapon would be "cool".
Ersid Cela, of Clas y Bedw, Waunarlwydd, bought the BSA .22 calibre weapon for £200 from a drug dealer in Mumbles after playing the Call of Duty computer game, in which players shoot each other with a range of automatic weapons.
-
But it went off when he tried to load it, hitting council workman Jason Crocker in the shoulder, as he was fixing a fence outside Cela's house. A second shot hit Mr Crocker's van.
Cela admitted actual bodily harm and criminal damage when he appeared before Swansea magistrates yesterday.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, June 30 2013
Prosecutor Linda Baker said the 23-year-old thought owning a rifle would be cool.
"He liked to play the video game Call of Duty. He paid £200 up front for the gun after meeting a man in Mumbles to buy cannabis."
Mrs Baker said after arriving home last Monday, Cela and his girlfriend Sarah fired the gun inside their house — with a pellet "just missing the TV". The following morning Cela loaded the weapon in his room as Mr Crocker was working outside.
"Mr Crocker heard a hissing sound go through the air and then felt a pain in his right shoulder," added Mrs Baker.
"He felt blood on his hands and then went weak in the knees with shock."
A second shot then hit the Swansea Council van.
Defending solicitor Stephen Burnell said his client had not intended to shoot his victim.
"The rifle had gone off by accident and must have fired through the curtain or a gap in it. That has been accepted by the Crown and the police," he said.
Mr Burnell added that Cela had also pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had handed himself in to police.
But District Judge Manning Davies said regardless of whether the shooting was an accident or not, it was still a serious offence.
"My sentencing powers are inadequate and therefore I commit the case to the Crown Court," he said.
"It is fortunate that Mr Crocker was not seriously injured.
"A few centimetres higher or lower and it may have hit his head."
Judge Davies also declined bail and remanded Cela in custody until he appears at Swansea Crown Court on July 26 for sentencing.
No charges have been brought against an 18-year-old woman, who was arrested following Tuesday's incident.
Comments
by swansea2015
Sunday, August 14 2011, 5:31PM
“Cant wait for police to catch him to take the smug look of his face, the police knw his address Clas y Bedw, Waunarlwydd, Swansea & Paulet Road Se5 9h London,”
by swansea2015
Sunday, August 14 2011, 5:24PM
“His Facebook page: http://tinyurl.com/4xw6pes”
by swansea2015
Sunday, August 14 2011, 5:22PM
“This Guy is a Con-Man he Stole my car, and the police are looking for him right now, hope when the catch him he goes dwn and hangs himself and dies in prison.”
by Ray Welsby, Clase Morriston
Monday, June 28 2010, 6:27AM
“Having read this artical,this man and his solicitor must think the public are mugs with his feeble excuse. A weapon will not fire unless it is loaded,surely a magistrate should Know this,and the prosecution service and sent this case to crown court. once again wasting taxpayers money,but not to worry the crown prosecution are known to waste are money so come on Cameron and Clegg get to grips with the way the law is interprited in this country of ours with magistrates and judges.”
by Vim, 'ere
Sunday, June 27 2010, 1:08PM
“Airguns don't hurt people, scumbags do. If anyone falls for his pathetic excuse, they deserve to be detained under the mental health act.”
by Valleyboy, The Valleys
Saturday, June 26 2010, 1:36PM
“Give the shooter a fair trial, then hang him high !
Or, perhaps a stretch in the "cooler", that might make him see the error of his ways, unless that is, he's beyond redemption.”
by Kev, Swansea
Saturday, June 26 2010, 11:54AM
“I know the guy who got shot, sort of. From the same village he was raised.
But the guy who shot him did not do this because he was fan of video games, this report and than prosecutor are idiots. They should be saying it as it is, that guy is danger and regardless of video games he would find guns cool. Look him up!”
by ian, swansea
Friday, June 25 2010, 4:10PM
“How could it have been a accident if the clown shot twice. ok he might have been loading the gun a first time but what about the second shot that hit the van. i agree john he will get a slap on the wrist.”
by Rob, Swansea
Friday, June 25 2010, 2:06PM
“This idiot has just put another nail in the coffin, for responsible air gun owners.”
by Bill the builder, Swansea
Friday, June 25 2010, 12:56PM
“an air rifle can't be accidently fire whilst loading it, the barrel would be split or the chamber would still be open, the rifle is only operational after its been loaded
and £200? that guy got seriously ripped off”