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Man jailed for police gun attack | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A man who admitted firing a sawn-off shotgun at an Essex police officer in his patrol car has been jailed for at least 11 years. | A man who admitted firing a sawn-off shotgun at an Essex police officer in his patrol car has been jailed for at least 11 years. |
Kenneth Spence, 23, of Collier Row, Essex, fired the weapon at Sgt Rob Huddleston's car after being pulled over by the officer in June 2008. | Kenneth Spence, 23, of Collier Row, Essex, fired the weapon at Sgt Rob Huddleston's car after being pulled over by the officer in June 2008. |
Mr Huddleston, 38, feared for his life but the shot only shattered the windscreen, the Old Bailey heard. | Mr Huddleston, 38, feared for his life but the shot only shattered the windscreen, the Old Bailey heard. |
Spence will have to serve at least 11 years of an indeterminate sentence. | Spence will have to serve at least 11 years of an indeterminate sentence. |
Spence, who only has one arm and was suffering from a drug-induced psychotic illness, had been driving around all night after shooting a friend in the shoulder. | Spence, who only has one arm and was suffering from a drug-induced psychotic illness, had been driving around all night after shooting a friend in the shoulder. |
I felt relieved immediately after the incident that he shot at me rather than a member of the public Sgt Rob Huddleston | I felt relieved immediately after the incident that he shot at me rather than a member of the public Sgt Rob Huddleston |
Mr Huddleston had pulled over Spence's Volkswagen Golf in Epping, Essex, after it was seen going through red lights, the court heard. | |
After shooting at the officer, Spence sped off. He was later caught by armed police. | After shooting at the officer, Spence sped off. He was later caught by armed police. |
He pleaded guilty to attempted murder, weapon possession, and grievous bodily harm for shooting his friend, Buddy Farey. | He pleaded guilty to attempted murder, weapon possession, and grievous bodily harm for shooting his friend, Buddy Farey. |
Judge Brian Barker, the Common Serjeant of London, told Spence: "This was a terrifying episode for all those touched by it. | Judge Brian Barker, the Common Serjeant of London, told Spence: "This was a terrifying episode for all those touched by it. |
"I am satisfied that you pose a significant risk to members of the public of serious harm by the commission of further serious offences in the future." | "I am satisfied that you pose a significant risk to members of the public of serious harm by the commission of further serious offences in the future." |
The shot shattered the windscreen, leaving the officer uninjured | The shot shattered the windscreen, leaving the officer uninjured |
Mr Huddleston said in a victim impact statement read to the Old Bailey: "I felt relieved immediately after the incident that he shot at me rather than a member of the public. | Mr Huddleston said in a victim impact statement read to the Old Bailey: "I felt relieved immediately after the incident that he shot at me rather than a member of the public. |
"I am not sure I could have lived with myself if someone else had got hurt." | "I am not sure I could have lived with myself if someone else had got hurt." |
Det Supt Tim Wills from Essex Police said: "I am pleased Kenny Spence has been put behind bars so that he will not be a danger to anyone for a significant period of time." | Det Supt Tim Wills from Essex Police said: "I am pleased Kenny Spence has been put behind bars so that he will not be a danger to anyone for a significant period of time." |
Mr Huddleston received a judge's commendation. | Mr Huddleston received a judge's commendation. |
The court heard that Spence had been badly affected by the murder of his father in 2005 and lost his left arm in a motorcycle accident later that year. | The court heard that Spence had been badly affected by the murder of his father in 2005 and lost his left arm in a motorcycle accident later that year. |
He was selling used cars to spend £100 a day on skunk cannabis and crack cocaine, which psychiatrists said sparked his schizophrenic illness and paranoid delusions. | He was selling used cars to spend £100 a day on skunk cannabis and crack cocaine, which psychiatrists said sparked his schizophrenic illness and paranoid delusions. |
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