Clay Davenport
Cerebral Nomad
I had to laugh at this one. Especially the part where he stated he had "greatly reduced" his heroin usage.
I'd also love to see the tattoo machines made in a welding shop. Seems like saying you're going to make wooden toys in a saw mill.
And all this on top of the fact he's walking around town with a crossbow bringing back game for his boa constrictor.
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A father of six had a loaded crossbow in the city centre because he needed to shoot rats to feed his pet snake Hisser, a court heard.
Mark Billman was yesterday given a 12-month suspended jail sentence at Norwich Crown Court after admitting possessing the offensive weapon in Upper King Street on August 13 last year.
Today, the 39-year-old heroin user from Barrack Street, who has a string of previous convictions for violence, dishonesty and possessing offensive weapons, said he felt lucky to have escaped a prison term and wanted to use the experience to turn his life around.
At his sentencing the court heard how Billman was arrested with the crossbow after he was spotted walking through the street with the crossbow slung across his back.
He had told officers he had just collected it from a friend he had lent it, oblivious to the fact that it was loaded, and was on his way home.
He also told them how he used the crossbow to shoot rats and rabbits for his boa constrictor Hisser to eat.
Billman even took along a photo album of the pet snake and his ratting dog Hippy to court to show the judge.
Judge David Goodin told Billman: “You have a persistent tendency to walk around the streets carrying an offensive weapon.
“There is no evidence you had it with intent to cause injury but if you had gone straight from A to B you might not be here today.”
As well as the suspended sentence, Billman was ordered to forfeit the crossbow and take part in a one-year drug programme.
Jon Morgans, speaking for Billman, said his client had had various problems including having been a heavy heroin user, a habit which he had acquired in prison.
Billman told his counsel that he had now greatly reduced his heroin intake with the help of the Bure Centre and had a stable relationship which had given him a purpose in living.
Today, the welder, who lives with his partner Angela Clarke, 18, said he had aspirations of starting his own metal welding business specialising in making tattoo guns.
“I'm sick and tired of this life I have been leading,” he said. “I was happy when they said I wasn't going to prison as I was pretty sure I would.
“I want to use this opportunity to turn myself around.”
Billman, who has owned three-year-old Hisser for about a year, said he often used to go hunting for rats and rabbits on Mousehold Heath as well as in rural spots near Cromer and Sheringham.
“I normally try to catch a few so I can store some in the freezer,” he said.
Link
I'd also love to see the tattoo machines made in a welding shop. Seems like saying you're going to make wooden toys in a saw mill.
And all this on top of the fact he's walking around town with a crossbow bringing back game for his boa constrictor.
-------------------------------------------------------------
A father of six had a loaded crossbow in the city centre because he needed to shoot rats to feed his pet snake Hisser, a court heard.
Mark Billman was yesterday given a 12-month suspended jail sentence at Norwich Crown Court after admitting possessing the offensive weapon in Upper King Street on August 13 last year.
Today, the 39-year-old heroin user from Barrack Street, who has a string of previous convictions for violence, dishonesty and possessing offensive weapons, said he felt lucky to have escaped a prison term and wanted to use the experience to turn his life around.
At his sentencing the court heard how Billman was arrested with the crossbow after he was spotted walking through the street with the crossbow slung across his back.
He had told officers he had just collected it from a friend he had lent it, oblivious to the fact that it was loaded, and was on his way home.
He also told them how he used the crossbow to shoot rats and rabbits for his boa constrictor Hisser to eat.
Billman even took along a photo album of the pet snake and his ratting dog Hippy to court to show the judge.
Judge David Goodin told Billman: “You have a persistent tendency to walk around the streets carrying an offensive weapon.
“There is no evidence you had it with intent to cause injury but if you had gone straight from A to B you might not be here today.”
As well as the suspended sentence, Billman was ordered to forfeit the crossbow and take part in a one-year drug programme.
Jon Morgans, speaking for Billman, said his client had had various problems including having been a heavy heroin user, a habit which he had acquired in prison.
Billman told his counsel that he had now greatly reduced his heroin intake with the help of the Bure Centre and had a stable relationship which had given him a purpose in living.
Today, the welder, who lives with his partner Angela Clarke, 18, said he had aspirations of starting his own metal welding business specialising in making tattoo guns.
“I'm sick and tired of this life I have been leading,” he said. “I was happy when they said I wasn't going to prison as I was pretty sure I would.
“I want to use this opportunity to turn myself around.”
Billman, who has owned three-year-old Hisser for about a year, said he often used to go hunting for rats and rabbits on Mousehold Heath as well as in rural spots near Cromer and Sheringham.
“I normally try to catch a few so I can store some in the freezer,” he said.
Link
