Rousay shotgun incident sees pensioner sentenced to 31 months in prison

A former Rousay resident, who pointed a loaded shotgun at two people on the island last October, has been jailed for 31 months.

Colin Baulch, 66, from Essex, appeared for sentencing today, Thursday, at the High Court in Edinburgh, having pleaded guilty to firearms offences at the High Court in Aberdeen last month.

Passing sentence, Lord Matthews noted that Baulch was of previous good character.

Telling Baulch that he was going to jail for two years and seven months, Lord Matthews added: “I am satisfied that matters escalated after your arrival and that your actions thereafter were in the heat of the moment and in the context of your emotional response to a stressful situation.

“Nonetheless, the offences are serious ones, involving a firearm, albeit one which you were entitled to possess, and they have had an effect on the complainers. All that has to be marked.”