Father and son who mistakenly shot at police cleared in court
A BUSINESSMAN frustrated by a lack of action over travellers was thrown into prison after mistakenly opening fire on police.
After enduring a year of harassment and intimidation from travellers, Richard Baldwin, an expert clay pigeon shooter, fired at an unmarked white van three times with his double-barrelled shotgun in the belief he was scaring off burglars who had targeted his garage workshop in the dead of night.
In fact, the van contained two plainclothed policemen who had pulled over after being “stood down” when superiors received reports Mr Baldwin was armed.
Mr Baldwin and his father, Bernard, gave chase through Leighton Buzzard, Beds, firing in the air and at the van’s wheels in a bid to make a citizen’s arrest. He was then arrested by armed police and held for three days, an experience he described as “absolute hell”.
The father and son were this week cleared of attempted murder.
Mr Baldwin told The Daily Telegraph yesterday that he had been harassed by “Irish travellers” for a year and hoped his vindication would make police realise that “more has got to be done” to support local businesses and citizens.
A jury at Luton Crown Court heard that Mr Baldwin, 35, had become frustrated after waiting 25 minutes for police to respond to his pleas for help. He took his legally owned gun and, along with his father, decided to try to track down the suspected burglars.
Pc Marcus Myers and Pc Russell Mapley were said to have fled in fear of their lives during the ordeal in September last year. Mr Baldwin said repeated calls to the police about harassment of his family had been ignored and he was warned by an officer not to use racially offensive terms when referring to the travellers.
As well as personal abuse, Mr Baldwin said tools and tyres were stolen from his business. He said he had never had difficulties with the travelling community before, but the people responsible for his abuse were from a different and aggressive group.
Martin Mulgrew, prosecuting, said of the pair: “They had gone out seeking retribution against those they believed were responsible for the break-in.”
The court heard Mr Baldwin had wanted to scare the occupants of the vehicle, so held his shotgun close enough to be able to tap on the window.
Mr Baldwin insisted he had never shot at the two men, but had merely wanted to disable the van or mark it with shot for future identification.
The Baldwins were also cleared of an alternative charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and carrying a loaded shotgun in a public place.