Man had stun gun but cleared of shooting

Aug 29 2008 by Chloe Griffiths, Liverpool Daily Post

A LIVERPOOL man has been cleared of shooting at a family home – but could face jail after being found with a stun gun.

Lee Bates was accused of firing at mum-of-three Martine Wilson’s house after his blood was found splattered on the window.

Three bullets had blasted through the front window at the property on Ranworth Close, Norris Green, and live rounds were found outside on the street.

Bates, 27, was arrested hours after he escaped from a police chase.

But a Liverpool Crown Court jury took less than two hours to find him not guilty yesterday.

The panel of eight men and four women unanimously cleared him of both charges – possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and having a weapon at the time of committing criminal damage.

Wearing a grey shirt and tie, Bates showed no emotion as the verdicts were delivered.

But after reaching their decision, the jury were told Bates could still face prison because he had already pleaded guilty to a separate charge of possessing an offensive weapon.

The crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

When officers searched Bates’s home on Long Lane, Fazakerley, following the March 24 shooting they discovered a stun gun in his bedroom.

The weapon has two prongs pertruding out of it which can deliver a 90,000 volt shock.

Judge Robert Warnock said: “It is a truly revolting weapon.”

He granted bail to Bates, who has already served the equivalent of a 10-month prison sentence while awaiting trial.

But he ordered him to return to court on September 26 to be sentenced for possessing the stun gun.

Jeffrey Clarke, defending, said: “I don’t think the defendant realised the sheer power of it.”

During the three-day trial, Bates told the court he had been forced to the scene of the shooting by a man he would only name as “Luke”.

After injuring him with a samurai sword, Luke had ordered Bates – at gun-point and without explanation – to smash the windows.

When he refused Luke fired at the glass.