Tanning salon boss who shot vacationer at pub is jailed for 19 years

A tanning salon boss who shot a vacationer at Britain’s highest pub has been jailed for 19 years.

Richard Bowser, 46, grew to become aggressive and armed himself after he was unable to pay a bar invoice on the Tan Hill Inn, close to Reeth in North Yorkshire.

The former tanning salon boss fired by means of a wood door on a vacationer, Lee Jackson, leaving a bullet nonetheless lodged in his arm on the landmark pub.

Tan Hill Inn has appeared in lots of TV reveals and the well-known Everest home windows advert which featured Ted Moult and his feather. The notable pub, which is 1,732ft above sea degree, was additionally in Vodafone’s first ever advert.

Bowser of Worcester Place, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, pleaded responsible to a few counts of assault and possessing prohibited weapons previous to the trial.

Richard Bowser, 46, grew to become aggressive and armed himself after he was unable to pay a bar invoice on the Tan Hill Inn, close to Reeth in North Yorkshire. He was sentenced to 19 years in jail at Teesside Crown Court yesterday

The former tanning salon boss fired by means of a wood door on a vacationer, Lee Jackson, leaving a bullet nonetheless lodged in his arm on the landmark pub (pictured: Tan Hill Inn)

Tan Hill Inn (pictured) is 1,732ft above sea degree and has featured in lots of TV adverts and reveals. In 2017, the pub featured within the Waitrose Christmas advert (pictured)

Following a trial, Bowser was convicted of wounding with intent and possession of firearms with intent to hazard life. He had already pleaded responsible to assault and precise bodily hurt.

The 46-year-old was sentenced to 19 years in jail at Teesside Crown Court yesterday. 

He was discovered not responsible of two prices of tried homicide.

The court docket heard Bowser had been concerned in a bar room brawl on the evening of the capturing on July 21, final yr.

Bowser had assaulted bar supervisor Nichola Townsend, pushing and slapping her, after she had requested him to relax when his financial institution card had been declined, jurors heard.

He then assaulted two males, Ryan Lockwood and Karl Pearson, after they tried to intervene.

Later that evening, Mr Jackson approached the glamping pod the place Bowser was staying and Bowser adopted him to a close-by bathroom the place he put a gun to Mr Jackson’s head and pulled the set off, however the gun didn’t go off.

When Mr Jackson ran to cover in a close-by visitor room, Bowser then fired 4 pictures on the door, one among which hit Mr Jackson within the arm.

The inn the place the incident happened was visited by James May and Oz Clarke within the TV present ‘Oz and James Drink to Britain’ and in 2017 it featured within the Waitrose Christmas advert. 

 Pictured are police on the pub after the incident in July final yr

The pub the place the incident happened was within the well-known Everest home windows advert (pictured) which featured Ted Moult and his feather 

Scenes for the ITV police drama, ‘Vera’, had been filmed there in May, 2019. The pub has additionally featured in ‘All Creatures Great and Small’. 

It can also be well-known for its lock-ins as it’s typically snow-bound within the worst of the winter climate.  

In police interviews, Bowser advised officers he had been carrying the weapons as a result of he had had a long-running feud with a person, or gang, from his space which made him concern for his life.

Mitigating, defence barrister Alistair McDonald stated the rationale Bowser selected to vacation on the Tan Hill Inn was as a result of it was ‘wholly away from the realm the place he feared assault’.

He stated the stress of this feud, together with the closure of his tanning enterprise following the Covid pandemic, had led to monetary and different pressures which Bowser had been coping with the time of the offences.

The court docket heard that Bowser had earlier convictions for grievous bodily hurt, carrying a machete, harmful driving and driving below the affect of drink or medication.

Sentencing, Judge Howard Crowson condemned Bowser’s ‘indiscriminate’ violence on the inn and stated it was apparent his sufferer had posed no bodily risk.

Detective Superintendent Fran Naughton, stated: ‘The actions of Bowser that evening had been completely abhorrent and are prone to have a long-lasting impact on the sufferer and people who witnessed this horrendous ordeal.

‘The different individuals caught up on this incident had been innocently working or having fun with a summer time’s night out with household and pals. No-one ought to be subjected to concern and violence like they had been that night.

‘Praise should go to the courageous and quick-thinking members of workers who not solely ensured the protection of their clients however have totally supported the police investigation which has resulted on this conviction.

Sentencing, Judge Howard Crowson condemned Bowser’s ‘indiscriminate’ violence on the inn and stated it was apparent his sufferer had posed no bodily risk. (Pictured: Tan Hill Inn within the Waitrose advert) 

‘This was an remoted incident carried out by one man. However, the impression his actions have had on everybody concerned that evening, and the broader Tan Hill group are lasting. Tan Hill is a well-liked space in North Yorkshire, and we hope this incident doesn’t cease individuals having fun with this particular location.

‘We welcome the prolonged sentence handed in court docket in the present day.

‘We hope this sentence sends a transparent message that violence, threatening behaviour and use of unlawful firearms has no place in North Yorkshire, the actions of 1 man that evening had been abhorrent and have had a long-lasting impact on all these concerned on this horrendous ordeal.

‘The sufferer should be praised for his bravery and help all through this investigation which performed a basic half in gaining this conviction. Although we won’t undo the occasions of that night, I hope the sentence handed in the present day, will assist give the sufferer some closure.’