Man from Swindon sentenced for firearm and blackmail offences
It happened on October 6 ,2023.
A man from Swindon has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for possession of an imitation firearm, ammunition and blackmail.
It happened on October 6 ,2023 - when he arrived at an address also in Burns Way and demanded money from the occupants - when they refused he returned brandishing a firearm threatening to shoot them
43 year-old Dean Snarey, of Burns Way, Upper Stratton, was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on Friday after being found guilty by trial in May.
In a statement read out to court Snarey's victim said: "I always feel like I am living in fear and I don’t want to leave the house as I think it's not worth the risk, I don’t trust leaving it.
"The fact his house is so near us and the fact the incident took place outside my house means I am constantly being reminded of the trauma."
Complex Crime Investigator Catherine Baird said: "I would like to thank the victims and witnesses who worked with us to safeguard the community from further offences from Snarey.
"This case has seen cancellations, adjournments and delays and they were all committed to seeing it through to a conclusion.
"We take incidents such as these extremely seriously and I’m delighted that Snarey has received a lengthy sentence for his crime.
"He attempted to persuade the court that the occupants wanted to buy the firearm and he was showing them that it worked.
“There is no place in Swindon, or anywhere else in Wiltshire for incidents such as these and we will continue to work hard to ensure the town is a safe place for everyone.”