Bexhill Man Jailed For Aiming Firearm At Police

Thursday, 26 August 2021 07:00

By Jade McLean

A man's been jailed after he aimed a firearm at police twice while they were attempting to respond to a 999 call in Bexhill.

Police say 49-year-old Paul Chantler of York Road in the town made threats to harm himself and when police arrived he shouted at them to stay away.

Tactical Firearms Unit officers fired a baton round, a form of rubber bullet, in the back garden of 49-year-old Paul Chantler in order to safely detain him.

Police discovered later on that the suspect had been brandishing an air rifle.

Chantler, of York Road, Bexhill, admitted two counts of assaulting a police officer and one count of possessing a dangerous air weapon without a certificate when he appeared at Lewes Crown Court.

He was found not guilty of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Judge Mark Van Der Zwart sentenced him to a total of six months in prison over the incident which happened on March 24, 2019.

The judge said it was an extremely serious incident, and said the officers were brave men and women doing a dangerous job.

The officers had been compassionate and caring, and displayed a firm sense of duty, the judge said.

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