Suffolk gunman jailed

A MAN who held a gun at the heads of three young people in a Suffolk town centre street has been jailed for 21 months.

One girl, who had the handgun held to her temple by 21-year-old Philip Catterick, said “oh my god” and thought she was going to be shot, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Ian Pells, prosecuting, said Catterick had approached a group of young people in London Road North, Lowestoft, at about 8.15pm on August 29 last year.

Catterick, who was not known to any of the youngsters, asked if any of them smoked weed and then asked if they knew how much he could get it for.

“They moved away from him because they were concerned by his behaviour,” said Mr Pells.

The defendant had then announced he had something to show the group and had produced a black handgun. He had waved the gun around and some of the group had run away.

Catterick had then held the gun to the temples of two boys and a girl who were left behind, said Mr Pells.

He said the defendant had held the gun at their heads for several seconds without saying anything. “When it came to her turn the girl said 'oh my god' and she thought she was going to be shot,” said Mr Pells.

The police were called and the youngsters pointed out Catterick to Pc John Head. The officer had followed him in his patrol car before chasing him on foot and arresting him in a service road behind Suffolk Road.

A handgun, a magazine and BB pellets were seized from him.

Mr Pells told the court that in 2003 Catterick had been sentenced to a 10-month detention and training order and on his release he had been banned from having anything to do with firearms and ammunition for five years.

Catterick, of no fixed address, admitted possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and possessing a firearm while prohibited.

Sentencing him Judge Neil McKittrick commended the actions of Pc Head who had been unarmed when he chased after Catterick who he believed to be armed.