Shotgun murderer jailed for at least 28 years

A man who murdered an acquaintance with a shotgun in Nottingham has been jailed for life.

Jack Preston gunned down Coel Tainton, 24, at his rented property in Ryeland Gardens, in The Meadows, at about 05:30 GMT on 28 February after an argument.

Preston originally claimed a masked intruder was responsible, but then later said the gun had gone off accidentally during a struggle after Tainton tried to rob him. However, Preston was convicted of murder last week following a trial.

At Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday Judge Nirmal Shant gave the 34-year-old a minimum jail term of 28 years, saying the victim "presented no threat to you".

Police said both men had been socialising together on 27 February and "discussed the sale and purchase of a phone with drug dealing contacts on it".

CCTV footage caught them in various pubs that evening, before they went to a cash machine in the early hours of 28 February, eventually returning to Preston's home where the fatal shooting took place.

Preston's claims over a masked intruder were undermined by both his DNA being found on the gun and a video on his phone showing the two men showing off with the gun earlier that evening.

The court heard impact statements from Tainton's father, sister and grandmother.

A statement from his mother, Rebecca Shipman, said: "There are no words that begin to express the impact that Coel's death has had on me and my family - and the living nightmare we are still going through due to the actions of Jack Preston."

Judge Shant said: "Within about 10 minutes of returning to the house, you had armed yourself with a double barrelled shotgun that had been stored in the house for two weeks.

"You must have made the decision to arm yourself and shoot Coel Tainton."

Shant noted Tainton was carrying a knife, but added evidence showed "that was not something you were aware of", and he "presented no threat to you".

Preston also admitted charges of possessing an illegal firearm, assaulting an emergency worker and threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour.

Det Insp Clare Gibson, of the major crime team at East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), said: "As his victim lay dying, Preston's thoughts turned almost immediately to covering his tracks.

"The idea of a mystery gunman always seemed extremely unlikely, and was quickly disproved by the available evidence.

"Ultimately, only one person now knows exactly what happened inside that address, and that is Jack Preston.

"However, rather than tell the truth, he told lie after lie in a bid to cover his tracks and avoid accountability for his own actions.

"His claim that Coel was somehow to blame for his own death was particularly egregious and I am pleased the jury dismissed it for the fabrication it was.

"Coel's family and friends acted with the utmost dignity throughout the trial. I hope today's sentence provides them with some comfort."

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