A Swindon man who fired a gun while wearing a clown mask has been jailed for blackmail.
Dean Snarey visited his neighbour’s home in Burns Way, Upper Stratton and demanded money from them between 8.40am and 9.40am on 6 October last year.
When the family refused, the 43-year-old damaged the door so they could not escape.
He then returned in a clown mask and brandishing a gun – threatening to shoot them. The firearm was discharged and a pellet casing was later found and forensically recovered.
The defendant was found guilty of possession of an imitation firearm and blackmail at his trial at Swindon Crown Court in May. He previously admitted possessing ammunition.
The expression “imitation firearm” means “anything which has the appearance of being a firearm whether it is capable of discharging any shot, bullet or other missile or not”, according to the Sentencing Council.
On Friday (25 October), he was jailed for seven years and six months.
In a statement read out to court Snarey’s victim said: “I always feel like I am living in fear and I don’t want to leave the house as I think it’s not worth the risk, I don’t trust leaving it.
“The fact his house is so near us and the fact the incident took place outside my house means I am constantly being reminded of the trauma.”
Complex Crime Investigator Catherine Baird said: “I would like to thank the victims and witnesses who worked with us to safeguard the community from further offences from Snarey.
“This case has seen cancellations, adjournments and delays and they were all committed to seeing it through to a conclusion.
“We take incidents such as these extremely seriously and I’m delighted that Snarey has received a lengthy sentence for his crime.
“He attempted to persuade the court that the occupants wanted to buy the firearm and he was showing them that it worked.
“There is no place in Swindon, or anywhere else in Wiltshire for incidents such as these and we will continue to work hard to ensure the town is a safe place for everyone.”
