A Swindon man has been jailed after “threatening to shoot” his neighbours while wearing a clown mask.

Dean Snarey, of Burns Way in Upper Stratton, was found guilty of possession of an imitation firearm and blackmail in May, following a trial.

At Swindon Crown Court on Friday, October 25, the 43-year-old was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.

Police say Snarey visited another address in Burns Way, at some point between 8.40am and 9.40am on October 6 last year, and demanded money from the occupants.

When they refused, he damaged the door so they could not open it to get out of the house.

The court heard that Snarey then returned in a clown mask brandishing an apparent firearm and threatening to shoot them.

The firearm was discharged close to his victim who believed he had been shot. 

READ MORE: Group of masked males 'tried to rob boy, 12, at knifepoint'

Dean SnareyDean Snarey (Image: Wiltshire Police) Snarey pleaded guilty to having live ammunition and was found guilty of the other offences after refusing to admit them.

In a statement read out to the court, Snarey's victim revealed he has been left “living in fear.”

He said: “I always feel like I am living in fear, and I don’t want to leave the house as I think it's not worth the risk, I don’t trust leaving it.

“The fact his house is so near us and the fact the incident took place outside my house means I am constantly being reminded of the trauma.”

Complex Crime Investigator Catherine Baird thanked the victims and witnesses involved in the case after the sentence was handed out.

The scene after the incidentThe scene after the incident (Image: Newsquest) She said: “I would like to thank the victims and witnesses who worked with us to safeguard the community from further offences from Snarey.

“This case has seen cancellations, adjournments and delays and they were all committed to seeing it through to a conclusion.”

CCI Baird was “delighted” with the jail term Snarey was slapped with.

She added: “We take incidents such as these extremely seriously and I’m delighted that Snarey has received a lengthy sentence for his crime.

“He attempted to persuade the court that the occupants wanted to buy the firearm and he was showing them that it worked.

“There is no place in Swindon, or anywhere else in Wiltshire for incidents such as these and we will continue to work hard to ensure the town is a safe place for everyone.”

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