A pair of ‘brave’ police officers disarmed a dange

A pair of ‘brave’ police officers disarmed a dangerous gunman
after he fired four shots in the street, a court heard today (Mon).

WPC Sarah Hargreaves, 22, and PC Mark Lambkin, 29, both attached
to West Ham Police Station confronted John Yerrell as he allegedly
wielded the lethal revolver.

Jobless Yerell, 25, of the Nye Bevan Estate, Millfields Road,
Clapton, denies having a firearm and ammunition in a public place and
three other firearms offences.

A jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court was told how at about 10.

30pm
on May 6, last year police were called to Tower Hamlets Road in Forest
Gate in relation to a reported disturbance.

PC Lambkin and WPC Hargreaves arrived in a marked van and could
see Yerrell and two other men fighting, said Mr Philip Katz,
prosecuting.

‘They were aware of two loud bangs and could see smoke coming
from where the defendant was,’ continued counsel.

Another shot was fired by the time the two officers were
close enough to pull one of the men – Jason O’Neil – away.

The court was told how at that stage Mr O’Neil was
heard to shout: – ‘For f***’s sake he’s got a gun.

‘
But ‘with considerable bravery’ WPC Hargreaves and PC Lambkin
moved closer and pinned Yerrell down against a car bonnett, said Mr
Katz.

‘They told him to drop the gun but not before he fired it once
again,’ added counsel.

The courageous pair then managed to disarm the gunman and take
him back to the police station.

Only two bullets out of six remained unfired.

At Yerrell’s home in a drawer, detectives found cartridges
matching those fired from the .

38 calibre Webley revolver.

The prosecution say that discharge from the bullets was found on
Yerrell’s leather jacket along with residue from the cartridges in one
of the pockets.

The jury were told that one of the shots fired made a hole
through a garage door nearby.

The trial continues tomorrow
(Tues).

ENDS