Husband shot crossbow at estranged wife’s lover

Harley Tavener, 23, let himself into his ex-partner

A husband shot a crossbow at his estranged wife’s lover after he found them in bed – but the victim dodged the bolt by using a duvet ‘like a gladiator’ with a net, a court heard.

Harley Tavener, 23, let himself into ex-partner Billie Hilsdon’s home in the early hours of the morning and discovered her with Jack Merrick.

Tavener shot at Mr Merrick with a crossbow but he picked up the duvet and used to it deflect the bolt like a Gladiator using a net, Bristol Crown Court was told.

Searches later revealed Tavener had an arsenal of weapons.

The crossbow was fired at a pork belly as a test by cops and found to be 25 times in excess of the 1.4 kg ‘draw weight’ for the weapon.

Tavener pleaded guilty to possessing a crossbow, knuckle duster, two knives and aggravated burglary.

George Threlfall, prosecuting, said Tavener and Miss Hilsdon married in 2015 but their relationship changed when they had a child.

He said: ‘Billie and Jack were in bed. They were enjoying each other’s company. The door burst open and the defendant came into the room. He was holding a crossbow.

The crossbow was fired at a pork belly as a test by cops and found to be 25 times in excess of the 1.4 kg 'draw weight' for the weapon (file photo)

The crossbow was fired at a pork belly as a test by cops and found to be 25 times in excess of the 1.4 kg ‘draw weight’ for the weapon (file photo)

‘Jack jumped up and stood at the foot of the bed. The defendant pointed the crossbow at Jack’s head, tracking him.

‘Jack showed considerable presence of mind, picking up the duvet, which was heavy, and threw it at the defendant like a gladiator might have thrown a net at his opponent, just as the defendant fired the crossbow.’

Judge William Hart jailed him for eight years and three months and handed him a restraining order to keep away from Miss Hilsdon.

He told Tavener: ‘What you did was grossly over-reacted to the problem you faced.’

Speaking outside Bristol Crown Court, barmaid Miss Hilsdon, who is to file for divorce, said: ‘I’m quite happy with the sentence. I think it seems fair.

‘I hope he can move on with his life and have therapy so that he doesn’t do this to someone else.’

Tavener kept petrol under the stairs and threatened to torch himself and also shot her in the leg with a BB gun, the court heard.

After Tavener assaulted her again he was prosecuted and handed a community order as well as a year’s restraining order.

But he caused more trouble when he visited Ms Hilsdon’s home in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, at 2am when he found her in bed with Mr Merrick.

Speaking outside Bristol Crown Court, barmaid Miss Hilsdon, who is to file for divorce, said: 'I'm quite happy with the sentence. I think it seems fair'

Speaking outside Bristol Crown Court, barmaid Miss Hilsdon, who is to file for divorce, said: ‘I’m quite happy with the sentence. I think it seems fair’

With that Tavener was taken to the floor and police arrested him.

Tavener was found to have a weapons collection which included knives, a knuckleduster, .177 calibre BB gun, axe and a smoke grenade.

David Scutt, defending, described his client as a ‘loner in the extreme’ who had only had one relationship, with Miss Hilsdon.

He conceded his client had inflicted a ‘terrifying ordeal’, but said a doctor concluded Tavener had suffered an adjustment disorder after the relationship break-up, which he regretted.



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