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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Geoffrey Bennett

Brentry teen shot mum's boyfriend in the face with air rifle

A Brentry teenager shot his mother's boyfriend in a heated row.

Kian Harris grabbed an air rifle and shot Mark Woodman in the face, Bristol Crown Court heard.

And when police searched Harris' home they found cannabis products, a stun gun and two printers intended for forging ID documents.

It transpired almost £100,000 had been credited to his bank account in six months.

Harris, 19, of Chakeshill Drive, pleaded guilty to four charges of possessing a Class B drug with intent to supply.

He also admitted wounding, possessing cannabis oil, possessing a stun gun and possessing an item for use in forgery, all offences relating to July 2019.

Judge Euan Ambrose sentenced him to 18 months' youth custody.

He told Harris: "Widespread and serious offending can only be properly marked by a period of immediate detention."

A hearing later under the Proceeds of Crime Act will consider confiscation of Harris ill-gotten gains.

Gregory Gordon, prosecuting, said Mr Woodman was arguing with Harris' mum when Harris produced an air rifle and shot him.

Mr Gordon said: "He felt a thud on his face.

"The defendant had fired at him and it (the pellet) grazed his nose, ricocheted off his glasses and embedded in his face close to his tear duct.

"Blood poured down his face and and he shouted 'Your son's f-ing shot me!'."

Mr Woodman went to hospital and had the pellet removed under general anaesthetic, the court heard.

He was left with a permanent scar across his nose and a lump under his eye.

When police searched Harris' home four days later they found cannabis and cannabis products in his bedroom as well as £1,775.50 cash and packaging from China.

They also found a stun gun, two printers and false identity documents.

An investigation revealed Harris had advertised online to supply fake IDs at £45 a time.

He said he was selling fake documents he had bought from China.

He denied using the printers to make the documents but accepted having them.

Police also found high value clothes, watches and jewellery thought to be fake.

And they also established that, between August 2018 and February 2019 just under £97,000 was credited to his bank account.

Daniel Woodman, defending, said his client was a father-to-be who cared for his mother and had a job in a shop.

He said Harris was well-liked and what happened appeared to be out of character for him.

He told the court there was also a suggestion that underlying mental health issues had troubled Harris for some years.

Mr Woodman said: "Immediate custody would set him back in a significant way.

"It would put him cheek and jowl with people far more criminal than him."

Harris was described as "bright and articulate".

Mr Woodman added: "If he can channel his energies in the right way he has a very bright future ahead of him."

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