Masked gunman is jailed for murder bid
A MASKED gunman who shot at a 27-year-old car driver in a terrifying broad daylight murder bid has been jailed for nine-and-a-half years.
Steven Nelson, 28, from Drumchapel, Glasgow, admitted attempting to murder Christopher Beaton by firing a shotgun at him in Kingsway Court, Glasgow, on May 20, last year.
He also pleaded guilty yesterday to illegally possessing a shotgun.
Judge Lady Stacey told Nelson: “I take the view you are a danger to the public and may remain so.”
She ordered Nelson to be monitored in the community for three years after his release from jail.
Defence QC Donald Findlay said: “The conduct involved is, of course, not acceptable. There are ways of solving a dispute and this isn’t one of them.
“This was to be something of a frightener and things went badly wrong.”
The High Court in Glasgow heard Mr Beaton was only saved from serious injury because he ducked as the shot was fired.
The left shoulder area of the driver’s seat was damaged and some pellets smashed into the head rest and the rear passenger window.
Ballistics experts said that the damage to Mr Beaton’s car was caused by a a single discharge from a 12-bore shotgun.
Prosecutor Liam Ewing told the court: “The accused held the shotgun with one hand and pointed it towards Mr Beaton, who instinctively ducked out of the way as Mr Nelson discharged the shotgun at him.”
Nelson claimed to police that the driver’s window in his VW Golf had been smashed earlier that day with a wheel brace by someone in a black Audi. He told officers his head was cut by flying glass and he drove off through a hedge and roadworks.
Nelson showed no emotion as he was led away to begin his sentence.