A GAMEKEEPER and her assistant opened fire at an illegal rave they came across while hunting rabbits.
Jessica Allinson, 46, of Pursers Lane, Peaslake, and her 28-year-old underkeeper, Alexander Szyndel, of Scotland Lane, Haslemere, stormed among 600 revellers, blasting away with double-barrelled shotguns at the loudspeakers.
They shot out car tyres and Allinson grabbed one of the organ-isers round the throat during a fierce argument, Guildford Crown Court heard last Tuesday.
Allinson and Szyndel pleaded guilty to four charges of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and causing criminal damage while in possession of firearms.
Before sentencing them Judge John Bull, QC, heard a trial of issue to decide the exact sequence of events and how many shots were fired in total.
Iain Wicks, prosecuting, told how the illegal rave was taking place in woodland at Netley Heath, near West Horsley.
The event had brought a flood of calls to the police – some from people living as far as seven miles away – after a group calling themselves FOC (Free of Charge) set up loud speakers, turntables and generators at 11.30pm.
It was still in full swing when Allinson and Szyndel, both armed with 12-bore shotguns, set out to go rabbiting at dawn.
Allinson, who works for Netley Heath Shoot, pointed her gun at a man and fired towards his car while Szyndel shot in the direction of a Ford Fiesta driving through the woods.
They also abused and threatened another man before manhandling a group of people and ramming their car with their Land Rover.
Mr Wicks said by about 6am, when the defendants reached the heart of the rave, Szyndel was clear-ly very angry and one of them fired a shot into the air.
He said: “The two defendants approached the speakers and four cartridges were discharged into them causing £1,700 in damage.
“Mr Syzndel is described as turning back to the speakers and firing a further two shots.”
Mr Wicks said there was an angry row between Allinson and Simon Scott, one of the organisers, during which she grabbed him by the throat and pointed her shotgun at him.
As the gamekeepers finally drove away Szyndel fired at a blue Proton which was being driven around the woods.
The court heard a woman who had turned up with a friend to collect her daughter from the rave was walking through the woods to try to find it.
They came across the Land Rover and stopped to ask for directions but were met with abuse. On returning to their car they found two of the tyres had been shot out, causing £500 damage.
Mr Wicks said Allinson finally called the police and they arrived to find her weeping and in a distraught state.
Both she and Szyndel were arrested. Sentencing is expected in the new year.
