Shooting victim jailed for hotel hammer attack

A SHOOTING victim armed himself with a hammer and sought revenge on the man he thought was the perpetrator, a court heard.

Ian Macbeth, of Ten Acre Road, Kimberworth Park, tracked down the empty hotel room of the man he believed had shot him a week earlier and damaged a door.

The 38-year-old (pictured) admitted possession of an offensive weapon and damaging property at Sheffield Crown Court last Thursday and was jailed for a year.

Ms Bev Tait, prosecuting, said Macbeth was shot in the leg on March 15 in an incident which she said was still being investigated by the police.

A week later, Macbeth decided to remonstrate with a number of people he thought were responsible, including a man staying at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Rotherham.

Macbeth did not find the man at the hotel but left a threatening note in the hotel room next door, Ms Tait said.

He then threw a hammer at a hotel door causing around £200 worth of damage.

Ms Tait said Macbeth had a long previous history of offending including domestic violence, possession of offensive weapons and battery.

Mr Dermot Hughes, mitigating, said Macbeth was lucky to be alive following the shooting.

He said Macbeth regretted what had happened but pointed out the only damage done was to the door.

“The reality is it could have been much worse,” he said.

Judge Roger Thomas jailed Macbeth for a year and banned him from contacting for five years the man he was trying to find.

Judge Thomas said: “On March 21, you were seeking out a man. 

“You knew where he resided at the time, the Prince of Wales Hotel in Rotherham, and you were armed with a hammer.” 

Judge Thomas said he would have jailed Macbeth for 18 months had he not pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

He said the jail term would be “a little time to reflect on what’s going on in your life and reflect on how peaceable you need to be”.