Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
GUN THREAT
Man aims weapon at terrified group
A man who pointed a gun at a petrified group of people, including a pregnant woman, has been jailed.
Jobe Norton, 20, said “I’m going to kill you all” when he revealed the weapon after getting involved in an argument between two men.
He was arrested by firearms officers after the incident in the Sussex Avenue area of the city at about 4pm on April 9. The terrifying offence took place after a reported dispute between two men who were known to each other, which Norton then became involved in. Norton, of Rutland Close, went into his home and came back out brandishing a gun.
He aimed it at a number of horrified people who had become involved in the dispute and told them: “I’m going to kill you all.” Shocked witnesses also told how he pointed the weapon at a pregnant woman. Norton then fled the scene as he knew police were on their way.
But he was later stopped while driving a car in Herne Bay by armed officers and was arrested. He admitted possession of a firearm or imitation with intent to cause fear of violence on July 21 and was sentenced to 15 months in a young offenders’ institution at Canterbury Crown Court last Thursday. The weapon used in the incident was not recovered and it is unclear whether it was an imitation. Investigating officer DC Steven East said: “Kent Police has a zero-tolerance approach to firearms-related offences and takes robust action against anyone found responsible. Thankfully, incidents such as this are very rare in the county.
“In this instance, Norton’s actions and the threats he made would have been terrifying for those in the area at the time. “However, the incident was quickly responded to and the resulting investigation has seen a custodial sentence handed down by the court.”