Man 'hunted down' victim and shot crossbow at him

Image source, South Wales Police

Image caption, Kieron Miller was jailed after chasing a man and shooting a crossbow at him
  • Author, Lucy Vladev
  • Role, Senior Reporter

A man who hunted down and shot a crossbow at his victim has been jailed for four and a half years.

Keiron Miller, 26, shot at TeeJay Caton in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, after the victim asked security to get him to leave a pub they were both in.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how the pair had 鈥減revious issues鈥 and Miller had initially chased Mr Caton down the street, before getting into a car to follow him.

He was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after admitting attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, as well as 16 months for possession of an offensive weapon, which will run concurrently.

Image source, CPS

Image caption, Miller chased down his victim with a crossbow

Judge Paul Hobson said the 26-year-old made a deliberate decision to 鈥渉unt him down鈥 and shoot at his victim.

On 15 June 2024, Miller and Mr Caton were at a pub in Barry town centre.

When the victim spotted Miller, he spoke to security about getting him to leave because of a previous disagreement the pair had.

However, when Mr Caton then left at midnight with his friend, he noticed a male shouting and walking towards them aiming a crossbow.

The pair fled in the direction of Broad Street and stood by a closed shop on Island Road.

It was then that the pair noticed a white Audi A3 pull up with Miller inside.

The court heard how he leaned over the driver and shot the crossbow in his direction while he was standing in the street.

Prosecutor Byron Broadstock said it was only Mr Caton鈥檚 friend shouting at him that made him move and the arrow miss.

After police were called, the defendant was chased down into a playing field where a search by officers found a hammer, crossbow and four arrows hidden.

Defence barrister Hilary Roberts said Miller had a 鈥減rolonged background鈥 with the victim and was 鈥渦nder the influence of drink and drugs鈥 at the time, which the defendant believes led to a 鈥渃omplete lack of judgement鈥.

She added that Miller knew what he did was 鈥渦tterly wrong鈥 and he has since sought out help for substance abuse while in prison.

Judge Hobson in sentencing said that, had the arrow struck the victim, 鈥渢he result could have been catastrophic鈥.

He said the idea of someone feeling comfortable using a crossbow as a weapon was 鈥渄eeply troubling鈥 and there was a 鈥渟ignificant degree of premeditation鈥 with Miller 鈥減ursuing the victim first on foot and then in a vehicle鈥.

Judge Hobson said: 鈥淭his was clearly an act of revenge, relating to the grievance that you have and took place brazenly in the street where other people could have been caught up in the incident."

He added it was 鈥減urely a matter of chance鈥 than no harm was caused.