A crazed English Defence League supporter from Rowley Regis has been jailed for brandishing an air rifle as he shouted racial abuse at a Muslim family’s home.
Neighbours of the Muslim family were terrified after seeing Shaun Havelin, aged 28, screaming and shouting racial taunts with the gun whilst wearing an EDL sweater.
The incident was sparked after an argument with his mother at her Warley Hall Road in which he shook his beloved sweater in her face and said: “I want to die in this.” He then charged round to the Muslim’s family’s house in a nearby street not realising they were not at home.
Judge Martin Walsh told Havelin it was clear his anger had been directed at the house where the Muslim family lived. He said: “Members of the public who saw you were in fear for their personal safety.”
Miss Sarah Pratt, prosecuting, said: “The gun was pointed towards the floor but his finger was on the trigger and his other hand was holding the barrel. People who saw him were very scared fearing he would be able to quickly lift the rifle and fire at them because in the dark, they did not know it was an unloaded air rifle.”
Keith Ingram just happened to be in the street and he later told police officers he believed he could have been shot and he reflected on the incident on a daily basis.
Havelin was bailed by police after his arrest and he appeared before Crown Court to deny charges but after learning his mother was to be a witness for the prosecution he warned her he would make sure she never gave evidence before smashing a window in her car.
Miss Pratt said he was allowed bail again and after bumping into a former partner by chance near Blackheath High Street Havelin punched her hard in the face fracturing an eye socket.
Havelin, of Ruskin Avenue, admitted possessing a firearm, witness intimidation and causing grievous bodily harm and the judge further made a five year restraining order forbidding him from having any contact with his ex-partner.
Mr Nathan Cook defending stressed Havelin had not pointed the rifle at anyone and told the court he realised the distress he had caused to people in the area.