Pensioner Albert Grannon Jailed For Killing Great Grandson With Air Rifle

A 78-year-old man has been sentenced to three years for killing his six-year-old great-grandson with an unlicensed air rifle. 

In June Albert Grannon pleaded guilty at Hull Crown Court to the manslaughter of Stanley Metcalf at a house in Sproatley, East Yorkshire, last year.

Stanley suffered a hole in the side of his abdomen when he was shot with the gun on July 26. 

Prosecutor John Elvidge QC told the court Stanley was shot from a few feet away and that he said: “You shot me granddad” after the gun went off. 

Elvidge said Grannon had a habit of keeping the adapted air rifle loaded in a cupboard to shoot vermin and Stanley had asked to see it.

Grannon also admitted possessing an air rifle without holding a firearms certificate.

Stanley’s mother, Jenny Dees, said of the defendant, who is her grandfather: “Not once did he say sorry. Now if he did, it would be meaningless – too little, too late.”

Paul Genney, defending, told the court that, despite the views of Stanley’s parents, Grannon, “blames himself totally”.

Stanley was found injured at a property in Church Lane and was pronounced dead later the same day after he was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary.

An inquest opening at Hull Coroner’s Court last year heard that the youngster died after suffering a pellet gun injury to the side of his abdomen.