BOWLING ALLEY SIEGE GUNMAN PLEADS GUILTY
GUNMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FALSE IMPRISONMENT AND FIREARMS CHARGES
A GUNMAN who held two people hostage at a Nuneaton bowling alley has been told he faces a long time behind bars.
David Clarke pleaded guilty to a number of serious charges including false imprisonment and firearms offences in connection with the four-hour stand-off at MFA Bowl at Bermuda Park in Nuneaton.
Armed police swooped on the bowling alley on the afternoon of October 22 last year after Clarke, 53, took two hostages while carrying a sawn-off shotgun, a Samurai sword and a knife.
After four hours of negotiations, officers stormed the centre and arrested Clarke, while also freeing the two hostages.
Clarke, of Ryde Avenue, Nuneaton, was charged and appeared at crown court in November where it was decided that he would be seen by a psychiatrist before the charges were put to him. And at Warwick Crown Court, prosecutor Peter Grieves-Smith stated that Clarke had been deemed fit to plead after being assessed. Clarke then pleaded guilty to two charges of false imprisonment, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, possession of an imitation firearm (a sawn-off shotgun) with intent to commit false imprisonment, two counts of possession of a bladed article (a Samurai sword and a knife) and criminal damage.
Clarke also entered a not guilty plea to another charge of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit false imprisonment, which was accepted by the prosecution.
After discussions with Mr Grieves-Smith and Clarke’s barrister, Colin Charvill, Judge Andrew Lockhart QC decided to adjourn sentencing until a presentence report was prepared assessing Clarke’s “dangerousness” and “the likelihood of reoffending”.
Remanding Clarke in custody until sentencing on March 2, Judge Lockhart told him: “You have pleaded guilty to the indictment on an acceptable basis.
“Your counsel has persuaded me I should consider a pre-sentence report before coming to the view if you are a dangerous offender.”
He also told Clarke to expect a “significant and lengthy prison sentence”.