EVENING NEWS (Norwich, UK) 22 February 06 I used crossbow to kill rats for snake (Hugh Bowring) {Excerpts}
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.
…
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.”
…
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.
http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/News/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=News&tBrand=enonline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED22 Feb 2006 10:19:06:510
