A CHEPSTOW man has been jailed for possessing a loaded shotgun in a public place and offering to supply heroin – just weeks before he was due to be released for a previous crime.

26-year-old Christopher Hill, of Welsh Street, was jailed in December last year for 18 months after he and David Samuel, of Tennyson Road, Caldicot, broke into a house and stole two cars.

As part of the investigations into the burglary, police seized Hill’s phone and discovered five video clips of him firing a “semi-automatic” shotgun and a text message from him offering to supply heroin.

Hill appeared at Cardiff Crown Court earlier today and was jailed for a total of three and a half years to be served alongside his current sentence.

He pleaded guilty to count one of offering to supply heroin on May 6 last year, and count two of possessing a loaded shotgun on March 13 last year.

Prosecutor James Evans told the court the clips are “reminiscent of something from a Robert De Niro film” and show Hill shooting at sandbags and a sign on Welsh Water-owned land.

While he was firing the gun, prosecutor Mr Evans said Hill was saying: “Oh, you mother*****, that’s what you get.”

The videos also show another man, the owner of the shotgun, who Hill has not identified.

The barrel of the shotgun had been sawn off, which Mr Evans said is to “spread fire from the weapon”. Judge Eleri Rees said: “The sawn off barrel suggests at one stage it was adapted for criminal use”.

In mitigation Owen Williams, defending, said Hill had no intention to commit any other criminal acts with the shotgun other than cause damage at the site.

Mr Williams said: “Damage was caused but fortunately the offence was being committed in a secluded area.

“Both of these offences were committed prior to his imprisonment for the burglary offence. Since being imprisoned he has detoxified and completed courses.

“He has used his time wisely over the last nine months. He is motivated to lead a positive lifestyle and is due for release in four to five weeks time.”

Judge Rees sentenced Hill to two and a half years for offering to supply heroin and 12 months for the shotgun offence. The sentences are to run consecutively but concurrently with his current sentence.

Judge Rees told Hill he used a “lethal weapon" which was adapted for crime.

She said: “Although it was remote, there was a footpath and of course the public had access to the place.

“You seemed to be enthusiastic firing this weapon at bags and at a sign. It’s a powerful weapon.

“There is no evidence it was to be used in the future for the purposes of crime even though it was an adapted weapon."