Four in court over shotgun charges

FOUR men have appeared in court after a shotgun was allegedly fired in a confrontation inside a Grimsby house.

The four appeared in custody before Grimsby magistrates yesterday, after being arrested following an incident in Bramble Close, near Macaulay Street.

Paul Blake, 30, of Caistor Drive, James Bence, 31, of Hatcliffe Close, Adam Coolledge, 24, of Belton Grove, and Stephen Hitchmough, 27, of Cabourne Road, Grimsby, are all accused of aggravated burglary, involving having a shotgun with them and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life on November 16. The cases were sent to Grimsby Crown Court under a fast-track system for serious cases and the four are due to appear before a judge for a preliminary hearing on Friday.

Bail was refused and the men were remanded in custody.

Prosecutor Andrew Allenby asked for the four to be remanded in custody and gave details of the allegations against them.

A gun was allegedly fired, the prosecution claims.

Also in the house were Eloise Furness and her daughter, Philippa Furness, the court heard.

The prosecution claims the men went to the house to "extract money" from David Childs or Eloise Furness.

No shotgun had been recovered, the court heard.

Solicitors Michael Culshaw, representing Blake, Coolledge and Hitchmough, and Roy Foreman, representing Bence, opposed the four being remanded in custody and strongly criticised the prosecution case, but the magistrates refused to allow bail.

About 30 supporters of the men packed the public gallery and, because there were so many, some were asked to leave.

There was shouting and swearing from some of the supporters when the magistrates refused bail.

Extra security was arranged at the court for the hearing.