Gunman 'wrecked' landlady's life in pub shooting

A gunman who injured a landlady when he opened fire on a crowd of people during a pub brawl has been jailed.

Bonita Page, 55, was shot in the leg as she tried to break up a fight outside The Red Lion, in Wath upon Dearne, in June 2024.

Sheffield Crown Court heard she now regarded herself as a shadow of her former self, while Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said the shooter, Oliver Corney, had "wrecked her life".

Imposing an extended sentence of 16 years and nine months on the 35-year-old, Judge Richardson told him he had "narrowly avoided a life sentence".

Corney, of Cricket Inn Road, Sheffield, pleaded guilty earlier this year to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, 10 days before a trial was due to take place.

The court heard how on the night of 28 June last year a fight over drugs had broken out between two men inside the pub.

Corney, who was under the influence of alcohol, heard about it and arrived at the scene armed with a gun.

A subsequent confrontation in the street saw Corney fire the weapon three times, intending to hurt one of the other men but instead shooting Mrs Page as she tried to break up the fight.

He immediately fled the scene and asked his partner to dispose of the clothes he had been wearing. He also got rid of the gun, which was never recovered.

Laura Marshall, prosecuting, told the hearing Mrs Page had given up her licence since the shooting and had not returned to work.

She said the injury to her leg had been so serious she had required surgery to repair muscle damage, which was still causing her pain to this day.

In a victim personal statement Mrs Page said she was previously an "independent and resourceful woman", but was now highly dependent on others, struggled to sleep and suffered from nightmares.

Her heightened anxiety and the post-traumatic stress disorder she was suffering from had left her unable to work and she said she had become scared during ordinary aspects of her life.

Corney, a labourer and father, had a high number of previous convictions, including offences for violence, sex offences, firearms and drugs offences.

Verity Barnes, mitigating, said her client had complex mental health needs and had had a poor upbringing.

On Friday, Corney was sentenced to 11 years and nine months imprisonment, with a five-year extension on licence.

Judge Richardson told the defendant it had only been "good fortune" he had not maimed others in the shooting.

"[Mrs Page] was grievously injured and the consequences for her have been exceptionally serious - you have wrecked her life," he said.

"She was a brave woman. Your conduct was exceptionally dangerous."

Corney did not react when the sentence was read out, but apologised to Mrs Page before leaving the dock.

Judge Richardson told the court Mrs Page was to be honoured with a bravery award during a ceremony at a later date.

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