Brechin resident is fined £225
Air rifle target shooting incident
Published:
A TARGET shooting session resulted in a £225 fine for a Brechin man at Forfar Sheriff Court yesterday.
Paul Gerrard 21, of 3 Guthrie Park, had earlier admitted committing a breach of the peace on December 1 last year and conducting himself in a disorderly manner by repeatedly discharging a .22 air rifle on an area of waste ground in the town.
Fiscal depute David Cobb said the area, close to Logan’s Potato Merchants in Strachan’s Park, was partially surrounded by a housing estate and close to a nature trail.
“The accused was firing his rifle at tin cans and might not have seen anyone who was bothered by what he was doing but someone took the trouble to phone the police,” he said.
“Police found him firing his rifle at a tin can on top of a vehicle trailer.
He attended Brechin police office on a voluntary basis. He made no reply to the caution and charge.”
Mr Cobb added there was no suggestion there was any near or actual danger to the public and it was “not clear” who had contacted the police. The rifle had also been seized.
Gerrard’s agent, Nick Markowski, said his client had grown up in the area and had no idea what he was doing was wrong. He also said Gerrard was accompanied by his nine-year-old stepson at the time.
“It appears other persons were using another area of the ground and one of them contacted the police,” he said.
“He had made some attempt to ensure any dangers were kept to a minimum.”
