A 35-year-old man who fired shots during an incident outside a Wath pub, seriously injuring the landlady, has been jailed
On 28 June 2024, following an earlier altercation outside the Red Lion pub, in Wath, Oliver Corney fired three shots towards the pub’s busy beer garden, leaving a woman with serious injuries, before fleeing on foot.
The victim, the pubโs landlady, had been trying to protect customers by locking the gates when she was struck. Her brave actions earned her a High Sheriff Bravery Award.
Police quickly responded, and early witness statements and CCTV footage identified Corney as a suspect. As information from the local community came in, Corney eventually handed himself in, likely aware that the investigation was closing in on him.
Despite initially refusing to comment or explain his actions, a witness positively identified him, and significant evidence led to him being charged with possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and grievous bodily harm with intent under Section 18.
Corney, 34, initially denied the charges but later changed his plea to guilty as the weight of evidence mounted against him.
Today (11 July), at Sheffield Crown Court, Corney, of Cricket Inn Road, Sheffield, was given an extended sentence totalling 16 years and nine months, with 11 years and nine months behind bars.
Detective Constable Jennifer Guest, of our Armed Crime Team, said: “Corney’s thoughtless actions put lots of people in danger and it is only through sheer luck that more people were not injured during this incident. His careless behaviour has left a lasting impact on his victim and I hope this sentence provides some closure for her.
“This was a thorough investigation which was helped by lots of support from the local community ultimately providing an overwhelming amount of evidence leaving Corney no choice but to plead guilty.
“We are relentless in our approach to tackling firearm enabled criminality in South Yorkshire and as today’s sentencing shows, anyone intent on illegally using or possessing firearms will be found and dealt with by the courts.
“We need the public to continue to help us in order to keep putting these dangerous criminals behind bars, and so I would urge anyone with information on the use of firearms in South Yorkshire to get in touch with us.”
