Heroin addict attacks girlfriend and officers (From Witney Gazette)

Heroin addict attacks girlfriend and officers

2:32pm Tuesday 28th February 2006 in Witney By Matt Wilkinson

A HEROIN addict armed with a gun stormed into his girlfriend's house attacking her and two police officers in an attempt to see his two children.

Gareth Edwards, of Banbury Road, Woodstock, was jailed for four-and-a-half years for possession of an imitation firearm with intent, criminal damage, two counts of actual bodily harm, and assault.

The 27-year-old broke into Kirsty Price's home, in Kidlington, on October 28, after downing more than four bottles of vodka and cider, armed with an airgun, Oxford Crown Court was told.

Prosecuting, Jane Brady, told the court the father-of-two had shot Miss Price in the arm and face then had started to hit her over the head with the gun when it had jammed.

One police officer who had rushed to the scene had been kicked and punched, while a second had been thrown down the stairs and then grabbed by the hair, and her head had been repeatedly banged on the ground by Edwards, she added.

She said Miss Price, who had staples put in her head wounds, may still have one of the pellets embedded in her skull.

Defending, Stephen Crouch told the court Edwards, a father of two-year-old and one-year-old sons, could not remember the attack, but had wanted better access to his two children during a break-up with his girlfriend.

The heroin addict had battled with his drug problems, and while in jail waiting sentence for the past three months, had tested negative for drugs.He said: "This is a remarkable story of of a young man of good character, hard working, a skilled worker as an engineer, and a loving family man.

"It's also a tale of a descent into drugs and alcohol fuelled violence, for which there can be no excuse but is also a story of redemption, self-help, and perhaps most of all, forgiveness."

Sentencing, Recorder Belinda Bucknall, sent Edwards to jail for a total four-and-a-half years for causing actual bodily harm to Miss Price, possession of an imitation firearm with intent, causing actual bodily harm to PC Nicholas Lambert, assault of WPC Emma Bailie, and criminal damage.