In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Albert Grannon, 78, of Sproatley, East Yorkshire, was jailed for the manslaughter of his six-year-old great-grandson, Stanley Metcalf. On Tuesday, 2 July 2019, the defendant appeared at Hull Crown Court for sentencing. The court reported that the “remorseless” pensioner shot the child in the abdomen with a pellet gun at his home in July 2018.
The investigation established that the shooting occurred at around 4:00pm on 26 July 2018, when Stanley was visiting Grannon’s property. Humberside Police reported that the gun had been left on a window sill and Grannon pulled the trigger, causing a fatal wound to the boy’s abdomen. The prosecution reported that Stanley was rushed to Hull Royal Infirmary but died later that day, leaving his twin sister, Elsie, and his parents “absolutely devastated” and “completely heartbroken.”
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Grannon had initially shown “no real remorse” for his actions, only pleading guilty as the case neared trial. Hull Crown Court heard how the “vibrant” and “football-mad” six-year-old had his life cut short by a member of his own family. The prosecution reported that the weapon used was an air rifle that had been illegally modified to increase its power, which Grannon knew required a firearms certificate that he did not possess in Sproatley, East Yorkshire.
Judge Peter Kelson QC noted that the case was “tragic” and “very serious,” highlighting that Grannon had a “reckless” disregard for safety. For his actions in Sproatley, East Yorkshire, the defendant was sentenced to three years in prison for manslaughter and a concurrent four-month term for possessing a firearm without a certificate. The judge noted that the sentence was necessary to reflect the enormity of the loss and the defendant’s long-standing refusal to take responsibility for the “needless” death of his great-grandson.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Albert Grannon was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Three years in prison for manslaughter.
- Concurrent Sentence: Four months in prison for possessing a firearm without a certificate.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Hull Crown Court following a guilty plea.
- Criminal Record: Convicted of manslaughter and firearms offences.
- Origin: Sproatley, East Yorkshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Grannon was managed by the National Probation Service following his term of incarceration. Due to the nature of the fatal shooting in Sproatley, East Yorkshire, his release on licence was subject to conditions regarding his conduct and residence.
Following his conviction, authorities highlighted the dangers of air weapons and the legal requirement for certificates for high-powered pellet guns. Grannon’s history of “reckless” handling of the weapon necessitated that he be barred from future firearms ownership. Any breach of his licence conditions or involvement with restricted weapons in East Yorkshire or elsewhere would have resulted in an immediate return to prison to serve the remainder of his term.
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