Man Who Shot Himself in Groin Jailed Five Years

Prozac the Robert · Post by **Prozac the Robert** » 2004-07-13 01:40pm

A 28-year-old man who shot himself in the testicles with a sawn-off shotgun was jailed for five years today.

David Walker had drunk 15 pints of lager when he accidentally discharged the gun which was stuffed down his trousers, Sheffield Crown Court heard.

The court was told how Walker underwent emergency surgery following the incident in Dinnington, South Yorkshire, and tests are continuing to find out how it will affect his fertility and future “sexual relationships“.

A judge heard how he went home for the gun after spending an evening in the pub arguing with lifelong friend Stuart Simpson about whose turn it was to buy a beer.

Andrew Hatton, prosecuting, told the court Walker left the pub and returned later with the shotgun but the bar had closed by this time and Mr Simpson had left.

Mr Hatton said: “He went home to get his gun. As he was returning to the area of the pub with it the gun went off.

“He had it shoved down his trousers.

“After the shotgun had discharged he placed it in a rubbish bin and crawled back to his home address.”

Walker told police he was so drunk he had no idea how he managed to shoot himself and why he went to fetch it.

Mr Hatton said the defendant’s mother found him at home covered with blood in the groin area.

It was a doctor at Bassetlaw Hospital, in Worksop, who called in the police.

Gulzar Syed, defending, said: “He is still suffering as a result of the injuries.

“He still feels quite severe pain. There are still pellets embedded within the scrotum area of his body.”

Asked by the judge about the doctors’ predictions for Walker’s future, Mr Syed said it was still too early for them to be sure “in terms of his fertility and degree in which any sexual relationship he has subsequently will be affected”.

He said he was also suffering from depression at the time of the shooting.

Mr Syed told the judge his client had bought the gun for just £15 four years before the incident on March 6, this year.

He said Walker had bought it for self protection and he had beaten up on a number of occasions.

Mr Syed added: “This was an isolated incident – an aberration. It was out of character for him in a state when he had been drinking.”

Walker, of The Crescent, Dinnington, admitted one charge of possession of a prohibited firearm at a previous hearing.

Judge Robert Moore said recent legislation regarding banned guns meant he had to impose the statutory minimum sentence on Walker of five years in prison.

He said: “The shooting of yourself is plainly an exceptional circumstance which is capable of reducing the sentence. But in this case, I am quite certain, it does not justify reducing it below the statutory minimum.”

The judge added: “You had this gun for something like four years. You’d bought the gun for self-defence. You’d not handed it in to the Firearms Amnesty organised before these new provisions.”

The court heard that Walker, who sat in the dock with short black hair and wearing a black track suit style top, had a number of previous convictions for minor dishonesty matters and one for a possession of a screwdriver he said was for protection.

He had no history of firearms offences.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2004-07-13 01:46pm

Ouch.

On the other hand, what was he doing with a shotgun shoved down his trousers?

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-07-13 01:49pm

so, is this an honorary darwin? things like this are why you leave the safety on, folks.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2004-07-13 01:55pm

Darth_Zod wrote:so, is this an honorary darwin? things like this are why you leave the safety on, folks.

He could potentially win an elusive Darwin award while remaining alive, if he destroyed his fertility (quite possible--he shot himself in the testicles).

sketerpot · Post by **sketerpot** » 2004-07-13 03:00pm

Darth_Zod wrote:so, is this an honorary darwin? things like this are why you leave the safety on, folks.

Things like this are why you don't get drunk with a sawed-off shotgun nearby. Much worse things could have happened, like someone getting killed. I'm glad he just shot himself in an area that isn't essential to anyone.

Spice Runner · Post by **Spice Runner** » 2004-07-13 03:43pm

Indeed, it's a good thing he was only able to harm himself. It would be terrible if an innocent person was harmed by the actions of this buffoon.

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2004-07-13 05:11pm

All I can say is that I for some reason find this unintentionally funny.

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2004-07-13 05:16pm

Didn't the article say he had an argument and went home to get his gun? I'd say it's pretty fortunate he just shot himself and didn't murder his friend.

Mayabird · Post by **Mayabird** » 2004-07-13 05:22pm

Master of Ossus wrote:
Darth_Zod wrote:so, is this an honorary darwin? things like this are why you leave the safety on, folks.
He could potentially win an elusive Darwin award while remaining alive, if he destroyed his fertility (quite possible--he shot himself in the testicles).

And if he somehow manages to stay fertile, he might just get a Darwin award runner-up. They're for people who probably should have gotten one, but maybe have some luck or something positive genetically that kept him from making the ultimate sacrifice to improving the human genepool.

Either way, he's a shoo-in for some sort of mention.

White Cat · Post by **White Cat** » 2004-07-13 06:36pm

The court heard that Walker, who sat in the dock with short black hair and wearing a black track suit style top, had a number of previous convictions for minor dishonesty matters and one for a possession of a screwdriver he said was for protection.

So... is it illegal to possess a screwdriver in Scotland?

Solauren · Post by **Solauren** » 2004-07-13 06:55pm

He was probably carrying it as a concealed weapon.

Realistically, you have no reason to walk down the street with a screwdriver hidden in your pocket.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2004-07-13 07:57pm

Solauren wrote:He was probably carrying it as a concealed weapon.

Realistically, you have no reason to walk down the street with a screwdriver hidden in your pocket.

I don't know about that. LOTS of people carry little kits to repair their glasses and things that almost invariably have screwdrivers in them. Also, I can easily imagine someone dropping a screwdriver into their pocket when they run out to do something (I've used screwdrivers out in the yard, and I could've potentially been called away in a hurry and forgotten about it).

Tribun · Post by **Tribun** » 2004-07-13 08:13pm

FUUULLL HIIIT!

These are the negative effects of alcohol....

moku · Post by **moku** » 2004-07-14 05:25am

I have no compassion for him...

Sharp-kun · Post by **Sharp-kun** » 2004-07-14 06:10am

Master of Ossus wrote: I don't know about that. LOTS of people carry little kits to repair their glasses and things that almost invariably have screwdrivers in them. Also, I can easily imagine someone dropping a screwdriver into their pocket when they run out to do something (I've used screwdrivers out in the yard, and I could've potentially been called away in a hurry and forgotten about it).

True, but I get the impression that he had no such reason.

Post by **haas mark** » 2004-07-14 06:23am

Tribun wrote:FUUULLL HIIIT!

These are the negative effects of alcohol....

Negative? I don't know about you, but I rather think that this is an improvement.

Tatterdemalion · Post by **Tatterdemalion** » 2004-07-14 06:49am

I don't know about that. LOTS of people carry little kits to repair their glasses and things that almost invariably have screwdrivers in them. Also, I can easily imagine someone dropping a screwdriver into their pocket when they run out to do something (I've used screwdrivers out in the yard, and I could've potentially been called away in a hurry and forgotten about it).

It's not the tools themselves that are illegal, rather it's carrying a concealed weapon. Basically as long as you can give a reason why you're carrying it other than as a weapon, you're okay (of course, that doesn't mean unscrupulous policemen can't trump up a charge on it if they want you arrested).