Judge praises bravery of Wath upon Dearne landlady, as man who shot her jailed for almost 12 years
Bonita Page was outside her pub last June when Oliver Corney fired three times into a group of people
The bravery of a landlady who was seriously injured when she was shot as she intervened in an argument outside her pub, will be recognised with an award, a judge said, after jailing the gunman for more than 11 years.
Bonita Page, 56, was outside her pub, The Red Lion in Wath upon Dearne, South Yorkshire, on June 28, 2024, when Oliver Corney, 35, fired three times into a group of people, Sheffield Crown Court heard on Friday.
Mrs Page was hit in the leg and suffered "life-changing" injuries, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said.
Judge Richardson told Corney he had "narrowly avoided" a life sentence as he jailed him for 11 years and nine months, with an extended licence period of five years because he was a "dangerous offender".
The defendant shouted "Mrs Page, I want to apologise to you", as he was led from the dock.
The judge told the court how Mrs Page had intervened in an argument earlier in the evening, which he said was probably to do with drugs.
He said Corney heard about this altercation, although he was not involved, and went to the pub with a gun.
The judge said: "Your conduct in opening fire in a public place was exceptionally dangerous and could have killed anyone present."
Corney, of Cricket Inn Road, Sheffield, admitted grievous bodily harm with intent, and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence at an earlier hearing.
Judge Richardson invited Mrs Page into his chambers after the hearing to thank her for her "very brave" actions and said she will be receiving an award from the High Sheriff of South Yorkshire at a ceremony later in the year.