Shropshire Star

Clay-shoot owner's gun licence plea fails

A businessman faces losing his clay-shooting businesses after his appeal against a police ruling to confiscate his shotgun certificate was dismissed.

Published

Andrew Pughe was told there was "real concern" over whether he was a "fit and proper person" to hold a shotgun certificate in the wake of a drunken row with his partner.

Pughe had previously been warned that he would face losing his certificate if he came to the police's attention again after being cautioned for affray following a disturbance in a pub three years ago while celebrating his grandmother's 100th birthday, Mold Crown Court was told.

Judge Peter Heywood ruled police had been right to confiscate Pughe's certificate on April 17 and dismissed his appeal against the decision. Pughe was also ordered to pay £1,000 costs.

Father-of-five Pughe had claimed he might be forced to sell his pony trekking, quad bike and clay-pigeon shooting activity centre which he runs from his home in Pandy, Glyn Ceiriog, due to loss of business.

Mr Simon Rogers, prosecuting, said in June 2011 Pughe was given a 12-month community order at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court after admitting affray when he, his brother and father had to be ejected from a pub after causing a disturbance when they were refused drinks.

On September 4 last year Pughe was involved in a row at home with his partner. No charges were brought, but Chief Superintendent Simon Humphreys, of North Wales Police, told the court that as the second row had also involved alcohol he had deemed Pughe to be a danger to the public and revoked his shotgun licence.

He said: "I believed there was an unacceptable risk and that he was not a fit person to possess a shotgun."

Mr Humphreys said Pughe had been written to following the pub disturbance three years ago warning him that any future misdemeanours could impact on his shotgun certificate.

Mr Duncan Bould, for Pughe, said police carried out no inquiries with him in relation to the business following the row this year.

In evidence, Pughe said he had been able to carry on the clay pigeon shoot with the help of a friend but he could not afford to pay someone to step in full or even part-time. Without a shotgun certificate he might have to sell up.

Rejecting the appeal, Judge Heywood said: "We are concerned above all with public safety and risk assessment and that is the way the police approach this question."

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