Shotgun-case man Daniel Mansell admits Leicestershire burglary

A man has admitted a farmhouse burglary which led to the arrest of two homeowners after they opened fire on intruders.

Daniel Mansell, 33, from Leicester, entered a guilty plea at Loughborough Magistrates' Court today and will be sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on September 25.

Married couple Andy and Tracey Ferrie were arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm after a legally-owned shotgun was fired during a break-in at their home in Welby, Leicestershire, in the early hours of Sunday. They were bailed pending further inquiries yesterday.

Joshua O'Gorman, 27, who is also charged with burglary, gave no indication of plea and was remanded in custody to appear before magistrates on September 14.

The court heard that Mr Ferrie, 35, and his 43-year-old wife went to bed at around 10.15pm on Saturday and were woken hours later by banging and the sound of breaking glass.

Sally Cook, prosecuting, said: "It is no secret that a shotgun was fired at the property."

She said Mansell, who appeared to have his arm in a sling under a grey sweatshirt, was injured inside the property and arrested later at hospital in Leicester.

The arrest of Mr and Mrs Ferrie after the incident at their isolated cottage near Melton Mowbray has reopened debate about the rights of householders.

The pair were detained after Mr Ferrie called police to tell them he had picked up a shotgun and fired at intruders at his home.

Rutland and Melton MP Alan Duncan, a Government minister, said the real crime would be if the couple were prosecuted for defending their home.

He said: "If this is a straightforward case of someone using a shotgun to defend themselves against burglars in the dead of night, then I would hope that the police will prosecute the burglars and not my constituents."

Two other men, aged 23 and 31, who were arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary, were released on bail pending further inquiries.

PA