Man jailed for six years after firing gun

A man from West Bromwich who admitted pulling out a pistol and firing it into the air to frighten a man has been jailed for six years.

As the victim fled he looked back to see the hammer of the pistol being pushed back and the weapon discharged.

Residents who heard the shot had called the police who arrived at the scene within minutes. Curtis Christie, 23, of Wolseley Road, West Bromwich, was arrested the same day after being stopped in a Fiat Punto, in Tiled House Lane, Dudley.

A cartridge found in Pensnett High Street after the incident in December 2010 was analysed and matching residue was found on his top, gloves and jeans, the court was told.

Also in the Fiat Punto was Tim Musumbu, of Henley Close, Tipton, who was found to have a knife in his jacket.

The court was told there was no evidence to suggest Musumbu had been present in the Renault Megane when the gun was discharged.

The 21-year-old, who admitted possession of a bladed article, was sentenced to a 12-month community order and ordered to carry out 180 hours unpaid work.

Christie admitted possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence at an earlier hearing.

Mr Stefan Kolodynski, prosecuting, said the roots of the case stemmed from when the victim had posted a picture of himself on Facebook surrounded by a large quantity of cash.

"It received a number of comments some of them taking it as joke and others not."

"On December 1 he received a phone call and the meeting in Pensnett High Street was arranged."

Mr Gary Wood, defending, said his client had believed the pistol contained blanks and had fired into the air only to frighten the victim.

"He is very sorry for what he has done."