Sex offender blasted Hull family home with gun after paedophile rumours

A SEX offender armed himself with a shotgun and drove more than 30 miles to shoot out the windows of a terrified family.

Two days earlier, Adrian Thorsby, 49, had been granted bail prior to being sentenced for a sex attack on a girl.

On November 20, 2011, Thorsby acquired a gun and drove from his home in Burton Agnes to Kilnsea Grove in Sutton.

Despite knowing Lisa Thompson and her partner Andrew Steam had four children aged five and under, Thorsby deliberately shot out the window of their front room.

IS YOUR CAR KEY BENT ? REMOTE FOB NOT WORKING ? LOST CAR KEYS ?...

Peace Of Mind Security Hull Ltd/Hull Car Keys

View details

Print voucher

FOR ALL YOUR CAR KEY NEEDS CALL US NOW ON
01482 423414
SNAPPED KEYS, LOST KEYS, KEYS LOCKED IN VEHICLES,
EXTRA KEYS
WE ALSO REPAIR 90% OF ALL REMOTES AND KEYS, NO FIX NO CHARGE.

Terms: Terms: FREE REMOTE KEY FOB BATTERY ONE PER CUSTOMER
SAVE £3.00 WITH THIS FREE BATTERY
Contact: 01482 423414

Contact: 01482 423414

Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013

Prosecutor David Hall told Hull Crown Court: "It seems that rumour and gossip and reports of the case spread around Hull.

"There were reports of him being a paedophile. He was unhappy about this.

"He parked outside the home in broad daylight. He aimed the gun out of the front driver's side of the vehicle and discharged one cartridge at the front living room window. He then drove off.

"Fortunately, they were not in the living room.

"The defendant was not to know who was in the living room when he discharged the weapon, as he did it without warning.

"The shots were plainly heard and frightened the occupants."

On November 18, 2011, a jury at Hull Crown Court convicted Thorsby of two sex offences against a six-year-old girl.

Thorsby attacked the home because he believed the family had called him a paedophile.

He had denied the shooting until the day of his trial when he was presented with evidence.

Mobile phone records placed him at the scene of the crime.

The family were also able to recognise Thorsby and his car and immediately called police.

He was arrested 12 hours later.

Judge Graham Robinson told Thorsby: "All of the children would have been expected to be in that living room, but fortunately for them, they were playing upstairs.

"You did not know that."

Thorsby was jailed for four and a half years for possessing a shotgun with intent to cause fear of violence.

On Tuesday, the Mail told how Lewis Patterson attacked a man outside a city bar while on bail after being charged with an axe-point robbery.

Patterson, 22, of Weymouth Close, Bransholme, is currently on remand and awaiting sentence.