Gunman who robbed courting couple in Wirral - 20th Jan 2009 3:13pm
A GUNMAN who robbed a courting couple in a terrifying incident has been sent to prison indefinitely.
David Mousley struck as the young couple sat in a vehicle in an isolated Wirral beachside car park and during the attack pointed a blank firing gun at the driver and demanded money.
He also pulled the trigger but fortunately it was pointed towards the dashboard and, although it went off with a yellow flash, no-one was injured.
The driver, Adam Gill, managed to slam his door shut, but Mousley, his face disguised with a scarf and baseball cap, smashed the window with the butt of the gun, showering the petrified couple with broken glass.
The woman passenger, Emma Gibson, desperately tried to throw her purse at Mousley and he started looking on the ground for it.
It had, however, landed in the car and Mr Gill used the opportunity to try to drive off but could not release the handbrake, said Geoffrey Fryar, prosecuting.
Mr Fryar said: “He opened the driver’s door a second time and shouted he could not find the purse. He was still pointing the gun at Mr Gill who handed the purse to him.
“Mr Gill offered his phone and he took it. Before leaving, he pointed the gun at Mr Gill and said, ‘don’t be ringing the bizzies, I have your address’. He then made off towards the coastal path.
Mr Gill, 19, drove off from the car park at the junction of Pasture Road and Leasowe Road, Moreton, and flagged down a passing police car. Miss Gibson, 20, described herself as ‘petrified and fearing for her own and her boyfriend’s lives.’
The police, aided with a helicopter, began searching the area and 37-year-old heroin addict Mousley was spotted about 20 minutes later in nearby Lingham Lane. He claimed he was jogging and, as he was no longer wearing the dark trousers and coat, he was allowed to go.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that he was stopped on two more occasions that night and his girlfriend was spoken to and she said they had argued and he had gone out jogging.
The next day, however, intensive police searches found the missing clothing and the scarf and cap in undergrowth and the stolen items.
In the pocket of the trousers officers found a pre-payment receipt for electricity and inquiries showed it belonged to Mousley. He was arrested the next day when he was near the robbery scene with friends and asked police what was going on.
Two schoolboys found the gun in a field the next day and his DNA was found on it and also on the scarf and cap. He denied the offence and claimed he had been in the area in bushes dogging with his wife.
Imposing an indeterminate sentence for public protection, Judge Gerald Clifton said the offence had been pre-planned.
He said: “You demanded money from them during the course of what must have been a hideously frightening ordeal.”
Mousley, of Wastdale Court, Moreton, pleaded guilty to two robberies and possessing an imitation firearm.
David Mousley struck as the young couple sat in a vehicle in an isolated Wirral beachside car park and during the attack pointed a blank firing gun at the driver and demanded money.
He also pulled the trigger but fortunately it was pointed towards the dashboard and, although it went off with a yellow flash, no-one was injured.
The driver, Adam Gill, managed to slam his door shut, but Mousley, his face disguised with a scarf and baseball cap, smashed the window with the butt of the gun, showering the petrified couple with broken glass.
The woman passenger, Emma Gibson, desperately tried to throw her purse at Mousley and he started looking on the ground for it.
It had, however, landed in the car and Mr Gill used the opportunity to try to drive off but could not release the handbrake, said Geoffrey Fryar, prosecuting.
Mr Fryar said: “He opened the driver’s door a second time and shouted he could not find the purse. He was still pointing the gun at Mr Gill who handed the purse to him.
“Mr Gill offered his phone and he took it. Before leaving, he pointed the gun at Mr Gill and said, ‘don’t be ringing the bizzies, I have your address’. He then made off towards the coastal path.
Mr Gill, 19, drove off from the car park at the junction of Pasture Road and Leasowe Road, Moreton, and flagged down a passing police car. Miss Gibson, 20, described herself as ‘petrified and fearing for her own and her boyfriend’s lives.’
The police, aided with a helicopter, began searching the area and 37-year-old heroin addict Mousley was spotted about 20 minutes later in nearby Lingham Lane. He claimed he was jogging and, as he was no longer wearing the dark trousers and coat, he was allowed to go.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that he was stopped on two more occasions that night and his girlfriend was spoken to and she said they had argued and he had gone out jogging.
The next day, however, intensive police searches found the missing clothing and the scarf and cap in undergrowth and the stolen items.
In the pocket of the trousers officers found a pre-payment receipt for electricity and inquiries showed it belonged to Mousley. He was arrested the next day when he was near the robbery scene with friends and asked police what was going on.
Two schoolboys found the gun in a field the next day and his DNA was found on it and also on the scarf and cap. He denied the offence and claimed he had been in the area in bushes dogging with his wife.
Imposing an indeterminate sentence for public protection, Judge Gerald Clifton said the offence had been pre-planned.
He said: “You demanded money from them during the course of what must have been a hideously frightening ordeal.”
Mousley, of Wastdale Court, Moreton, pleaded guilty to two robberies and possessing an imitation firearm.
