Man shot girlfriend in row over glass of water

COURT: He admits aiming air pistol at partner’s feet and ordering her to dance

A man who shot his girlfriend when she refused to get him a glass of water has been jailed.

Ryan York, 25, of Brook Court, Dundee, admitted that at one point he aimed his air pistol at Sarah McLeod’s feet and ordered her to dance.

He then shot her in the leg after demanding she fetch him a glass of water.

York then demanded she cover up the attack when she went to hospital – only for medics to report the gun wound on her leg to police.

It was only when the couple broke up almost a year later that she came forward and said York had attacked her.

Depute fiscal Vicki Bell told Dundee Sheriff Court: “She provided a statement attempting to cover up the incident by saying she had been shot in the leg at a party and did not remember where she had been or who was there.

“The couple separated in October 2015 and after speaking to friends and family Miss McLeod decided to go to the police.

“She stated the couple had been at the accused’s home address.

“Some time in the early hours of December 13 2014 they had an argument while in bed.

“The accused asked her to get him a drink of water from the kitchen – however, as they had been arguing she refused to do so.

“She saw him lean over the side of the bed and present an object that she knew to be a handgun at her.

“She assumed it was a replica or fake gun.

“However, he pointed the gun directly at her and shouted ‘get up and get water, you will go get it now’.

“She turned and walked towards the door and heard a loud pinging noise.

“She looked down at her leg and observed heavy blood flow coming from her lower calf area.

“She screamed that he had shot her and he replied ‘I couldn’t have shot you as there were no bullets’.

“He then informed her she could not contact anyone about this as he would go to jail.

“The following morning she told him she was going to have to go to hospital as the pain was unbearable.

“She was given an x-ray and it found there was still an object in the wound.

“A small metal pellet was then removed.

“Due to the injury being consistent with a gunshot wound consistent with some form of air weapon or firearm, staff at Ninewells contacted the police.”

York pleaded guilty on indictment to a charge of assault to injury committed on December 13 2014.

Defence solicitor Ian Myles said: “He had checked the gun previously and didn’t think it was loaded.

“He accepts his guilt in causing the injury to this young lady.”

Sheriff Alastair Brown jailed York for 32 months and ordered him to be monitored in the community for a year after his release.

He was also placed on a non-harassment order banning him from contacting Miss McLeod for five years.

Ryan York was jailed for 32 months. The court was told he had checked the gun previously and did not think it was loaded.