Luxury menswear model proprietor, 50, blocked from shotgun licence

The millionaire owner of a luxury menswear brand has been blocked from having a shotgun licence after he allegedly threatened to shoot an employee at a VIP party.

Kristian Ferner Robson, chief executive of Oliver Brown, had appealed against a decision by police to refuse a gun licence after a string of alcohol-fuelled incidents.

Allegations included that he racially abused a man in central London‘s Piccadilly and threatened to kill an employee said to have ‘crashed’ an event for clients at exclusive Mediterranean restaurant Isabel Mayfair.

Oliver Brown sells menswear, shooting wear and accessories and has outlets in London’s Lower Sloane Street, Jermyn Street and Cornhill.

Mr Ferner Robson, a former gamekeeper, regularly attends and participates in shoots to show off the outfits, the court was told.

An employment tribunal previously heard Mr Ferner Robson was upset and frustrated after assistant manager Jerome Ingle-Smith arrived at the restaurant after party to celebrate the launch of the Jermyn Street store in November 2021.

According to court documents, the 50-year-old married father of two told Mr Ingle-Smith: ‘I will beat the shit out of you, you little c***. I will f****** kill you’ and ‘I will f****** shoot you’.

Kristian Ferner Robson (pictured) , chief executive of Oliver Brown, had appealed against a decision by police to refuse a gun licence after a string of alcohol-fuelled incidents

Kristian Robson attends an intimate dinner to celebrate the launch of the new Oliver Brown SS22 collection on April 26, 2022 

The next day, the staff member resigned stating: ‘Following last night’s threats of violence against me by Kristian, I no longer feel safe attending my place of work.’

Mr Ingle-Smith won the employment tribunal, although Mr Ferner Robson continued to deny that he threatened to shoot him.

In his statement to the court, Mr Ferner Robson argued that ‘idle threats’ in the ‘heat of the moment’ should not bar him from holding a gunshot licence.

But Sergeant Jamie Tyrrell, of the Met Police Firearms Enquiry Team (FET), stated: ‘The discovery of this incident is of immense concern as Mr Ferner Robson has not only made threats to kill a member of his own staff, but that he has also threatened to use of a firearm in order to do so.’

The officer stated that the incident was not reported to police but if the team had known about it, Mr Ferner Robson’s permit to hold a shotgun would have been reviewed then.

Giving evidence at the Old Bailey, the businessman said he was a ‘changed man’.

His lawyer, Quentin Hunt, said his client no longer drank to excess and ‘highly respectable individuals queued up to say good things about him’.

But panel chair Judge Simon Mayo KC dismissed his appeal after ‘careful consideration’ of evidence.

He said: ‘We have reached the conclusion that the appellant cannot be permitted to possess a shotgun without danger to the public safety and to the peace.’

Sgt Tyrrell outlined a past ‘pattern of behaviour’ when Mr Ferner Robson was under in the influence of alcohol.

In April 2007, he was arrested for making racist slurs towards a man in Westminster, and made a further racist remark in custody.

Mr Ferner Robson said now felt ‘disgusted’ and ‘deeply regeted’ the incident which had resulted in a caution for a racially aggravated public order offence.

In June 2008, Mr Ferner Robson was arrested but no further action was taken after estate agent signs were taken down and strewn across two roads.

According to Mr Ferner Robson, he had returned home from a stag do at 1am and removed a Foxton’s for sale sign after finding it outside his property.

In 2001, he was cautioned for the unlawful transfer of a shotgun to an unlicensed person.

Mr Ferner Robson explained it was a ‘simple error’ when he gave his shotguns to a ‘very good friend’ who already had 20 guns in his cabinet.

In his statement to the court, Mr Ferner Robson argued that ‘idle threats’ in the ‘heat of the moment’ should not bar him from holding a gunshot licence

He stated: ‘He mistakenly told me that his licence was in-date and so I thought I was doing the responsible thing by handing over my guns when my gun licence was due to expire imminently.’

In 2010, his vehicle found abandoned at 4am and shotgun cartridges were recovered from his boot which had been in there since 2007.

Mr Ferner Robson had also failed to disclose his previous convictions and cautions when he applied for a shotgun licence in 2022.

He explained that he suffered from ADHD and had difficulties filling out forms.

The court heard how Mr Ferner Robson had previously worked as a game keeper on the Raeshaw Estate in Scotland.

He also argued that he was a ‘positive’ influence on society and worked for a homeless charity and helped vaccinate people during the Covid pandemic.