a coppers lot

7 Yr Min For Threatening To Shoot Officers
07-Dec-09

Neighbour dispute led to officers being held at gunpoint, police van stolen and fireman kidnapped...


A man who held two police officers up at gunpoint and then kidnapped a firefighter has been given an indeterminate sentence.

Robert Inman, 37, pleaded guilty to a string of offences including possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, robbery and kidnapping at Peterborough Crown Court in August.

They related to an incident on June 9 this year when police were called to a neighbour dispute at Inman's home in Medeswell, Orton Malborne, Peterborough.

A police officer spoke to Inman and dealt with the incident but after leaving the premises he discovered that Inman was wanted on suspicion of fraud.

The constable went back to the address with the intention of arresting him but on questioning Inman he produced a handgun. Another police officer, a sergeant, arrived at the scene unaware of what had happened and both were held up at gunpoint.

Inman took their equipment, including radios and handcuffs, and locked them in the garden of the property before driving off in the police van outside.

He abandoned the van on the A1 close to Sawtry before stopping a passing retained fire officer in a fire service vehicle, showing him a police warrant card and then threatening him with the gun once inside his vehicle.

Inman made the officer drive to the M11 before allowing him out the vehicle at junction 10 near Haverhill.

By now police from Cambridgeshire and Suffolk were hunting for Inman and he was arrested at a flat in Newton Place, Haverhill, at about 6am the next day (June 10).

Today, at Huntingdon Crown Court, Judge Nicholas Coleman handed Inman an indeterminate sentence saying he would serve at least seven years before being considered for parole. Then he will not be released unless he is not considered a danger to the public.

Judge Coleman also gave the two police officers involved Judge's Commendations and awarded the fire officer £500.

Detective Inspector Nick Hunt, who led the investigation, welcomed the sentence given to Inman.

He said "This was an extremely traumatic incident for the officers involved, both of whom are now back on duty.

"The thoroughness of the subsequent investigation gave Inman no option but to plead guilty to the majority of charges against him.

"Inman could be described as a Walter Mitty type character. To his neighbours he was a decent family man and very friendly, but in this case he showed he was an individual who would go to extreme lengths to avoid justice


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Note the judges action on this the poor bloody coppers end up with a "thank you very much" while "crash and splash" matey (fireman) ends up with £500 in his pocket.

its great to see that gun control is working

Bloody Stupid! Anyone using a gun against someone else should be locked up for life, we must get tough with these people.
I don't understand why the Fireman got £500 when the coppers got Commendations surely they went through the same thing?

Ok - here's the other side, as posted on my friend's blog a few days ago. It's a true story - check it out:

"On March 20th 2009, a 27 year old ex-soldier, Paul Clarke, noticed that a black plastic rubbish bag had been dumped on his garden wall, and, having retrieved it, he found it to contain a sawn-off shotgun, together with a couple of cartridges. He phoned the police at once saying that he would bring it to the station. Having handed the offending object over, he was instantly arrested.

About a month ago he was found guilty by a JURY at Guildford Crown Court of ‘Possession of a Firearm’ and faces a sentence of up to FIVE YEARS in prison.

Poor old Clarke, he stupidly thought that, by taking a shotgun off the streets and handing it over to the cops, he was doing his duty as a good citizen. What an idiot. Just like the child/dog situation, in loony-Britain one should DO NOTHING. So now you know; if you spot a firearm somewhere in the street, LEAVE IT WHERE IT IS. Much better some kid gets hold of it, than for YOU to end up in Parkhurst. What a state of affairs! Clarke will be sentenced on December 11th. Let’s just hope that the judge sees sense, and offers him a reward rather than porridge. Don’t hold your breath!"

Moral of the story? You work it out, but I'll give you a clue: I was once (recently) told by a serving officer - 'Never give the police anymore information than you are obliged to.'

Yea! Don't tell 'em yer name Tom, and certainly don't mention those fifty cannabis seeds we sowed in them plant pots outside Bath nick, or that Brinks Matt gold bullion that's under old Palmers swimming pool.

Too late - I've given them your registration plate number for the 18th.