Williams, Gary

Gary Williams pleaded not guilty but was convicted in May 2007 at Wolverhampton Crown Court of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of expanding ammunition, violent disorder, and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The charges related to two separate incidents.

He was sentenced to imprisonment for public protection (IPP) with a minimum of seven years to serve for wounding and possession of a firearm with intent, and to five years’ imprisonment, to be served concurrently, for possession of a prohibited firearm and possession of expanding ammunition. No separate penalty was imposed for violent disorder.

The Court of Appeal declined Mr Williams’ application for leave to appeal in January 2011. He applied to the CCRC for a review of his case in July 2017.

Having considered the case in detail, the CCRC decided to refer Mr Williams’ convictions for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of a prohibited firearm and possession of expanded ammunition, because it believed there was a real possibility that the Court of Appeal would quash the convictions.

The referral was based on new evidence that Mr Williams did not bring a firearm to the scene of the first incident.

The CCRC referred the conviction in October 2019.

The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction in February 2021.