He has been jailed following the menacing incident
Bitter feuding between two men suddenly turned nasty when one of them menacingly warned his rival: “I’m going to kill you. You are a dead man” – before firing a pellet gun at him in the street. Revenge-seeking troublemaker Ashley Borrill left the victim in shock because it all happened so quickly but luckily the pellets all missed their target.
The man heard their “pings” and the offence was made worse because a child was in the street at the time, Hull Crown Court heard. Borrill, 33, of Reigate Close, off Holderness Road, east Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence on June 21.
Daniel Penman, prosecuting, said that a man was in Hull when he was told that Borrill was coming to fight him. There were links between the two men and a woman.
The man later went to Oriel Grove, east Hull, where he saw a van that he did not recognise driving up and down. Borrill told him: “Come up here. I’m going to kill you. You are a dead man. You have got the full estate after you.”
Borrill went back to the van and pulled out what the man believed was a black handgun. He fired three shots but none of them hit the man. Two of the shots hit a nearby fence. He heard the “pings” of the gun being fired.
Neighbours heard the shots and a child was in the area. The man ran inside and called the police. Borrill climbed into the passenger seat of the van and escaped.
The man later said that Borrill did not think twice about using the gun to frighten him. The incident happened so quickly that it was a shock to him.
The rental van was identified and the home of another man was searched. Borrill had seemingly given the gun to the other man. A search was made of that man’s home and the gun was found under a bed.
It was thought to be an air weapon or pellet gun, the court heard. Borrill was circulated as wanted and he handed himself in to police on July 1.
He had convictions for 26 previous offences, including assault and public disorder. He had been jailed in 2014 for eight months for producing and supplying cannabis.
Harry Bradford, mitigating, said that there was a significant background to the relationship between Borrill and the victim. “He made a series of incredibly stupid, foolish and, more importantly, dangerous decisions which led to him discharging the weapon in public,” said Mr Bradford.
“There is no excusing his actions that day. He is deeply sorry for his behaviour. He wishes to put this whole incident behind him and he has expressed remorse.”
He had stayed off alcohol and drugs while in custody. The “short, sharp shock” of custody led him to tackle his issues. He had previously worked full-time in the construction industry and he had a job lined up for when he was released from prison.
Borrill was jailed for two years and three months. He was given a four-year restraining order.