Swindon man in blunderbuss attack is jailed

5:15pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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A man who aimed a model blunderbuss at police called to a domestic assault at his home has been jailed for eight months.

But the sentence means Karol Janicki walked free from court as he had served the time in custody on remand.

The 43-year-old had assaulted his wife and grown up son in a drunken rage before turning the decorative gun on officers.

And he then had three taser stun guns fired into him by police fearing he was aiming a shotgun at them.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon crown court how Janicki and his wife of 22 years Danuta had been arguing Thursday January 10.

He was drunk and making a cannabis cigarette when she took it from him and threw it out, remonstrating with him about it.

Janicki then struck her to the nose and face and brandished a knife before his son Stefan came downstairs and also spoke to his father.

The teenager then went to make some food but his dad smashed a plate over his head before leaving the house.

However he came back and smashed through the glass in the locked front door with a hammer while his wife and son fled through the back door and over the garden fence.

Shortly after the police, who had been called earlier, arrived at the house and went in to see what had happened.

As they entered the house the officers, who had shouted they were there, were confronted by Janicki who swore at them.

He then disappeared into the living room and returned brandishing what looked to them to be a short barrelled shotgun.

They told him to put it down but instead he pointed it at them so the officers fired their tasers into him giving him a total of three bursts of shock.

Janicki, of Colebrook Road, Coleview, pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, actual bodily harm and common assault.

Chris Smyth, defending, said "No one in their right mind would point an item like that at armed officers. They are likely to get shot."

He said his client had spent four months in custody on remand and the court heard his wife had forgiven him.

Judge Douglas Field imposed an eight month jail term saying he expected it to mean his immediate release.

He said "Police officers discharging their public duty came into the house with you pointing the gun; I think you had taken it off a wall, and were concerned it may be used against them.

"I have to take into account the sort of weapon it was, some sort of crude copy of a blunderbuss. One can imagine what was going through the minds of the officers."