A man has been jailed after a woman was seriously injured during a firearms incident that saw blood and pellet marks left throughout a house.
Delroy Smith, of Hill Lane, was jailed for seven years and two months on Tuesday.
Specialist officers rushed to a house on Hill Lane at 4.45am on January 30, after reports of an altercation.
They found the property empty, but with signs of a disturbance, including blood and pellet marks throughout.
READ MORE: Hill Lane: People near scene of attack tell of shock at woman injured
A woman in her 50s was later located in a car on Cracknore Road with a serious injury to her arm.
Police found the victim, a woman in her 50s, in a car in Cracknore Road (Image: Newsquest)
She was taken to hospital for treatment and was later discharged, however her injuries remain life-changing and she has had to undergo nine operations on her arm.
An investigation was launched and Delroy Smith of Hill Lane was arrested by police.
Two days later, on February 1, police located the firearm believed to have been used in the offence outside of a property on Milton Road.
Smith was charged and, at a Southampton Crown Court hearing in June, he pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm and inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent.
Several police vehicles were spotted on Hill Lane (Image: Newsquest)
Speaking after sentencing, Detective Sergeant Josh Reisoglu, of Southampton’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), said: “This was an incredibly traumatic and violent experience for the woman involved, who has suffered horrible injuries that will impact her mobility and change her life forever.
READ MORE: Southampton attempted murder suspect arrested after woman injured
“My sincere thanks go to the victim, whose courage and bravery throughout the criminal justice proceedings have been exemplary. Whilst there is nothing that can change what happened, I hope that the conclusion of these proceedings and this sentence goes someway to closing this chapter and helping her move forward in life.
“Smith’s actions were incredibly reckless and irresponsible, and could have resulted in a far worse outcome. I am pleased that justice will now be served for the crimes that he committed.
“Not only did this impact the victim, this incident also had a significant impact on the community. Crimes involving firearms in Southampton are thankfully rare, however, we appreciate how concerning they are when they do occur.”
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