Man who fired shots into house is jailed
A MAN who fired a shotgun through the kitchen window of a house during a ‘campaign of intimidation and hatred’ after the breakup of a relationship has been jailed.
A family were inside the property in Miles Platting at the time, but nobody was injured, a court heard.
A month earlier, Scott Cartwright, 21, also smashed a window at the home in Moston of his former girlfriend, as well as a car windscreen, Manchester Crown Court was told.
Cartwright, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal damage and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
He was jailed on Friday for six years and nine months.
Judge Patrick Field QC called the shooting an ‘extremely dangerous, reckless act’.
There was, he said, a ‘risk of fatal injuries’ and the offences arose because Cartwright felt ‘aggrieved’ by the break up of his relationship.
The court heard that after they split up, Cartwright ‘on occasion’ sent text messages to his ex, threatening acts of violence against the house and car.
“Your reaction to the end of that relationship was to embark on a campaign of intimidation, which culminated in the firing of that shotgun,” said Judge Field.
“It was a very serious offence indeed. You shot at that window at close range. You knew there were people inside the house.”
Hugh McKee, prosecuting, said Cartwright attacked the house and car on October 31 last year.
Then, on November 24, he went on a motorbike with a shotgun to the home of a friend of his ex-girlfriend, the court heard.
“She was waiting for her to arrive at that address,” said Mr McKee.
“She saw a male standing there with a gun.
“She was in shock. She slammed the door shut and locked it. She recognised Scott Cartwright’s voice.
“She got halfway up the stairs when he fired a shot through the kitchen window.”
The court heard police were called and Cartwright was arrested on December 9.
In interview, he denied the allegations, calling them ‘all lies’, Mr McKee added.
The court heard Cartwright was ‘a young man with a difficult combination of psychological conditions’.
Judge Field also passed an extended licence period of three years.