31/10/2013

Robber Who Shot Fife Victims Jailed

A 20-year-old man who shot two women in Fife during an attempted robbery has been sentenced to over five years in jail.

Oatis Fowler was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday, having previously pled guilty to assaulting the two women, with the intent of robbing them.

The incident began in Boblingen Way in Glenrothes on Tuesday May 7 when Fowler approached two women and demanded they surrender their handbags.

He then shot them with an air weapon designed to fire ball-bearings.

One of the women suffered numerous wounds as a result of being struck a number of times.

Local Area Commander Chief Inspector Derek McEwan said: "This was a terrifying ordeal for the two women, whose lives were put at risk by the cowardly behaviour of Oatis Fowler.

"They genuinely believed they would be killed, and there is no doubt that this incident could have ended in tragic circumstances. Even now, the two victims are still dealing with the emotional and physical side effects of their ordeal.

"Police Scotland is committed to keeping people safe, and in Glenrothes in recent months we have had a great deal of success in targeting those who choose to carry an offensive weapon, using stop and search and other tactics to carry out arrests and remove dangerous weapons from the streets of our town.

"This targeted activity will continue, and I would urge local people to play their part in keeping our community safe by reporting anyone who they believe to be carrying an offensive weapon, either by contacting Police Scotland on 101, or by making an anonymous report through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

(IT/CD)

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