Tragic dad 'aimed air gun at officer' (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Tragic dad 'aimed air gun at officer'

9:02am Tuesday 16th September 2008 in Swindon By Gazette Reporter

A man who collects air guns and crossbows trashed his house, assaulted his wife and pointed an air rifle at a police woman, a jury heard.

Kevin Major, whose daughter was murdered three years ago, is accused of pointing the weapon, fitted with a telescopic sight, at the driver of a patrol car.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court yesterday how PC Justine Wilkinson had gone to the 48-year-old's Penhill home on Sunday, January 27.

But when she arrived he said she had the living daylights' scared out of her when the gun was aimed at her.

He then used the butt of the weapon to smash the window of a police van and was trying to do the same to a patrol car when the weapon broke into pieces.

Major, of Melksham Close, Penhill, denies possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and common assault on his wife.

But he has admitted three counts of criminal damage.

The court heard how the dad was left devastated when his daughter Julie Butcher was murdered.

Major's wife, Gwen, told the court she thought the whole incident in January was a result of him having a breakdown', in the aftermath of his daughter's murder.

She told the jury she had returned home from work and was watching television when her husband came back from the pub.

They had been arguing about her daughter, who was staying with them with her little son, when Major started smashing things up, she said.

After breaking a number of bottles of wine in the kitchen as well as crockery he came through to the living room and knocked over the TV and started to kick it.

"He was in a frenzy," she told the court.

During the argument she said he rapped her on the forehead with his knuckles as one would if knocking on the door.

She told the jury it didn't hurt but accepted in her statement made soon after she told police it caused a sharp pain'.

Mrs Major told the court that as the dogs were getting scared she left and went to a neighbour's house.

She said she saw a number of items being thrown out of the windows of the house and then her husband running out with the gun.

But Mrs Major, who is back living with her husband, said she did not see him point it at anyone, just bashing the police cars with the butt.

Mr Meeke had earlier told the jury how the weapon had been aimed at the officer.

"The prosecution say he levelled that air gun, he levelled that air gun at the driver's side window of the police car driven by WPC Wilkinson as if he was going to shoot her," he said.

When she was faced with the gun being pointed at her he said she reversed away at speed, colliding with another police vehicle.

Major denies the firearm offence and common assault on his wife.

The case continues.