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.

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.

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