Sam Coleman was threatened by Shearer on his way to work when his car was almost taken at gunpoint

by Mary Louis

An alcoholic father-of-three pointed a gun at a prison officer in a bid to hijack his car and leave Dover.

But a court was told how the driver foiled Bryan Shearer’s “absolutely terrifying” crime, fighting back and disarming him.

The robber struck following his partner’s ultimatum of “give up drink or us.”

Canterbury Crown Court was told that Shearer, 30, of Old Park Road, Dover, had accepted full responsibility although he had little recollection of his actions.

He had admitted robbery, and possessing an imitation firearm and a knife.

Judge Andrew Patience QC described the case as “very, very troubling and sad”, sentencing Shearer to three-and-a-half years in prison for robbery, two years for possessing the gun and one year for possessing the knife, to run concurrently.

James Bilsland, prosecuting, said prison officer Sam Coleman had been driving to work in Dover on January 6 this year.

At about 7.25am, he had stopped at traffic lights at the Maison Dieu Road/Castle Street junction (see picture right, by Maxine Dournish).

He noticed a figure with a rucksack crossing the back of his car.

The man opened the driver’s door and pointed a pistol at Mr Coleman, saying: “Get out of your car, I am having your car.”

Mr Coleman did so, leaving the keys in the ignition and the engine running.

He said later: “I don’t know what came over me, but I decided to stop him.”

The prison officer grabbed the gun and the pair wrestled in the car.

Mr Coleman had hold of the gunman’s throat and chest. The gun came loose and Mr Coleman had thrown it out of the car “as hard as I could.”

A van arrived and the occupant got out. Mr Coleman shouted: “He has got a gun and was trying to nick my car.”

He continued to struggle with Shearer, who by then had calmed down.

They had a conversation about Mr Coleman’s occupation and Shearer “picking on the right guy.”

Shearer told him the gun was fake. Mr Coleman said his attacker had not been agressive but looked “miserable and upset.”

Kent Fire and Rescue Service had arrived and firefighters had “minded” Shearer while waiting for the police who turned up at 7.40am.

Mr Coleman later spotted a large knife lying on his car seat.

“It hit him quite hard. He said if he had realised, he may have thought twice about tackling Shearer,” said the prosecutor.

Mr Coleman’s shoulder had hurt and he had a scratch on his arm.

The gun had been an imitation, but the judge said Mr Coleman had not known it was not real and loaded and had been “very brave”.

The court was told that Shearer’s partner had found him very drunk when she had gone to collect him in January and told him “ you have chosen alcohol over us”. She had gone to collect her things from their home.

"there is no solace in drink. in your case it is a hopeless and lifetime condition" – judge andrew patience qc

Paul Hogben, defending, said after a row with her, Shearer had left their home with a sleeping bag and knife “for protection” and set off to sleep in the woods, stopping to buy lager and cider. He had tried to sleep on the beach.

The next he had known he was waking up in the car with the police and firefighters and no recollection of what had happened.

His previous offences had included battery and motoring offences, all involving alcohol.

Paul Hogben, defending, said as a child Shearer had suffered physical and mental abuse at the hands of his stepfather.

He had had an “appalling” childhood and had wanted to protect his mother who had also been abused by his stepfather.

“Mr Shearer is not a dangerous man, he is a troubled man who needs help."

There were 17 letters of support and references for Shearer to the judge, from his partner, his parents, his father’s new wife, family, friends, employers, and the alcohol rehabilitation team in prison.

The judge acknowledged Shearer’s “very, very difficult upbringing”, his “excellent side” and his “appalling alcohol problem.”

He told Shearer the circumstances of his crime were “terrible”, adding: “There is no solace in drink. In your case it is a hopeless and lifetime condition. You must recognise it and rid yourself of it.”