MP backs constituent arrested over shooting of burglars
Government minister Alan Duncan says a man who shot two suspected burglars at his remote home should not be prosecuted.
The man and his wife were disturbed by an apparent break-in in the Welby area, near Melton Mowbray, in the early hours of Monday morning.
It is understood that he grabbed a shotgun, which was legally owned, and shot two of the four alleged intruders before calling the police.
The man, 35, and his 43-year-old wife were arrested in Melton on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm. Neither suffered any injuries during the incident.
Rutland and Melton MP Alan Duncan said said the householders should not be prosecuted for defending their home.
“If this is a straightforward case of someone using a shotgun to defend themselves against burglars in the dead of night, then I would hope that the police will prosecute the burglars and not my constituents,” he said.
“The householder is the victim here and justice should support them and prosecute the burglars.”
A spokeswoman for Leicestershire Police said that shortly after the force received the call, around 12.30am, the ambulance service were called to treat a man with shotgun injuries.
It is understood that call was made by one of the suspected burglars.
Later, a second man was treated for shotgun injuries after presenting himself at Leicester Royal Infirmary.
The two men, along with two others, were all arrested at the hospital.
A statement from Leicestershire Police said: “Police were called at 12.26 am this morning by a man reporting a group of men had broken into his home in Melton.
“The man stated that during the course of the incident he had fired a legally held shot gun and the intruders had left the scene.
“Around five minutes later the ambulance service called to tell us they had been called to a man with injuries consistent with shotgun injuries.
“Investigations have begun into both reports and six people, five men and one woman, have been arrested.
“A 35-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman were arrested in Melton on suspicion of GBH and four men aged 27, 23, 31 and 33 were arrested at Leicester Royal Infirmary on suspicion of aggravated burglary.
“Inquiries are ongoing and there is very little else we can add at this time.”