THIS is the dramatic moment a gunman blasted his sawn-off shotgun through a neighbour's window during 'psychotic' episode.
Neville Coatsworth got it into his head that his neighbours were sneaking into his home before releasing tarantulas to attack him or steal his possessions when his mental health spiralled downwards during lockdown.
The 56-year-old left his neighbour fearing for his life after he fired the gun three times at her front door and window.
Another neighbour, who came out of his house to see what was happening, has spoken of his shock as Coatsworth turned and levelled the shotgun at him.
The man, who doesn't want to be named, said: "I just heard a loud bang and went out to see what was happening - I thought it was a tyre exploding, I wasn't expecting to be confronted by a man with a shotgun.
"I shouted 'what are you doing?' and he turned towards me and pointed the shotgun straight at me. I panicked, I was actually terrified and ran back into the house to call the police.
Read more: Shildon man jailed after terrifying ordeal saw him shoot at neighbour THREE times
"While I was on the phone to them, I heard another loud bang and this time he had fired through the window. It was so loud that the person I was talking to on the phone heard it at their end.
"I just locked my door and closed the blinds so that he couldn't see that I was taking pictures of him to give to the police.
"I honestly had no idea why he was firing his shotgun or whether he had hurt someone - it was the most frightening experience of my life."
Coatsworth, of Dale Road, Shildon, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and cause fear of violence and illegal possession of two shotguns following the incident on October 7 last year.
Judge Jonathan Carroll imposed a 13-year sentence on Coatsworth – eight years in custody with an additional five years on extended licence.
He said: “You levelled the shotgun at her, with remarkable presence of mind and speed of reaction, she slammed the door shut and moved to one side as you shot. Had she not moved the consequences would have been catastrophic."
Speaking after the sentence, Detective Constable David Nicholson, of Durham Constabulary, said: “To open your front door to find a man standing there with a shotgun must have been absolutely terrifying.
“Coatsworth didn’t care about the potential consequences of his actions that day.
Thankfully no-one was injured but the people who were in the street that day will no doubt remember what happened for the rest of their lives.
“This incident could have had a very different outcome but thanks to quick-thinking members of the public who alerted us, it meant we were able to bring this to a safe conclusion fairly quickly.”
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