THIS is the horrifying moment a gunman opened fire on a crowded beer garden of a pub, leaving a woman seriously injured.
Last year, Oliver Corney fired three shots into the busy beer garden of the Red Lion in Wath upon Dearne, South Yorkshire.
Oliver Corney, 34, has been jailed after open firing on a beer garden[/caption]
Frightening CCTV footage issued by South Yorkshire Police shows one of three shots fired[/caption]
The gunman reportedly came after a pub brawl[/caption]
One of the shots fired on June 28 hit landlady Bonita Page, 55, in the leg, leaving her with serious injuries.
Page was trying to break up the fight when she was caught in the crossfire.
In a chilling video released by South Yorkshire Police, the first gunshot can be seen striking the ground between a small crowd of people.
The second, a little further away, sends sparks flying into the air.
In the third shot, a white-haired woman standing by the pub’s gate can be seen doubling over before limping inside.
Corney’s attack followed a fight outside the pub and after firing into the crowd, Corney then fled the scene.
The force’s Armed Crime Team quickly launched an investigation.
A spokesman said: “Officers were quickly on the scene and through initial witness interviews and CCTV enquiries, Corney was nominated as a suspect.
“As the local community began to provide crucial information about the incident, Corney obviously felt the net closing and handed himself in.
“After refusing to provide any comment or explanation for his reckless behaviour, a positive identification from a witness of the incident and an overwhelming amount of evidence resulted in Corney being charged with possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and Section 18 – grievous bodily harm with intent.”
Page was badly affected by the traumatic event and has not since returned to work and is still in pain.
In her personal statement the landlady now finds ordinary activities difficult and has nightmares and PTSD.
Sheffield Crown Court heard, and Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said the shooter had “wrecked her life”.
He said Corney had “narrowly avoided a life sentence”.
The 34-year-old initially pleaded not guilty to the crimes in a shameless display of “remorseless behaviour” but finally he changed his plea to guilty.
On Friday, July 11, at Sheffield Crown Court, Corney, of Cricket Inn Road, Sheffield, was handed an extended sentence of 16 years and nine months in prison.
He must serve at least 11 years and nine months behind bars.
Detective Constable Jennifer Guest, of our Armed Crime Team, said: “Corney’s thoughtless actions put lots of people in danger and it is only through sheer luck that more people were not injured during this incident.
“His careless behaviour has left a lasting impact on his victim and I hope this sentence provides some closure for her.
“This was a thorough investigation which was helped by lots of support from the local community ultimately providing an overwhelming amount of evidence leaving Corney no choice but to plead guilty.
“We are relentless in our approach to tackling firearm enabled criminality in South Yorkshire and as today’s sentencing shows, anyone intent on illegally using or possessing firearms will be found and dealt with by the courts.
“We need the public to continue to help us in order to keep putting these dangerous criminals behind bars, and so I would urge anyone with information on the use of firearms in South Yorkshire to get in touch with us.”
Corney admitted to the shooting the Red Lion, South Yorkshire[/caption]
