Liam Whitbread, 24, has been described as a ‘dangerous’ gunman after being jailed for firing a homemade shotgun in a crowded park in Radcliffe. On Friday 1 April, Manchester Crown Court sentenced Whitbread to six years in prison, with an additional three years on licence.
On Saturday 30 May 2020, Whitbread carried a ‘slamgun’ concealed in a towel onto Redbank playing fields. Video footage recorded on a mobile phone showed him firing the crude weapon towards what police believe was a rival group, while families were sunbathing and children played nearby.
Although no one was physically injured, the incident caused panic and distress throughout the park. Police received numerous calls, leading to a complex investigation led by detectives from Bury CID.
Detectives combined key witness statements with CCTV footage and forensic evidence to build their case. After a four-day trial, a jury found Whitbread guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
The judge described Whitbread as ‘dangerous’ and imposed a total sentence of nine years, including licence time, reflecting the serious threat he posed to public safety.
Detective Inspector Andy Wright of GMP Bury’s CID said: “The rash recklessness demonstrated by Liam Whitbread was as ridiculous as it was dangerous and it’s important that he now serves years behind bars for his actions that day.”
“It’s lucky nobody was physically injured, including Whitbread himself, but that doesn’t lessen the fear caused to those present. Crime involving guns is one of our top priorities, and we work tirelessly to keep firearms off Bury’s streets.”
“We remain committed to hunting down and bringing to justice anyone who threatens our communities with weapons.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
