Crossbow road rage nightmare (From York Press)

Driver William Edward Howgego pointed weapon through car window

9:30am Wednesday 16th May 2012 in News By Megi Rychlikova, megi.rychlikova@thepress.co.uk

A DRIVER who pointed a crossbow out of a car window in a city centre street is today behind bars awaiting sentence.

Cathy Turnbull, prosecuting, said William Edward Howgego had a child aged three or four in the back of the car and a small arsenal of weapons when he drove along Albert Street on April 4.

They included three throwing knives as well as the crossbow and five crossbow bolts.

Ms Turnbull said a female student was walking through the Walmgate area of York when she heard shouting and saw a car reversing erratically.

There was an “agitated” man at its window who appeared to be angry. The driver reached behind himself, leaned through the window and pointed a crossbow towards where the shouting had come from.

“She was in great fear,” said Ms Turnbull. “She was worried the man would fire the crossbow.”

She called police. When officers arrived, Howgego had got out of the car, another man and the child were inside it and the crossbow was in the rear of the car. When they searched the vehicle they found the other weapons.

Ms Turnbull said on Wednesday, Howgego nearly knocked down a pedestrian with his driving in the Tang Hall area and almost caused an accident at Grimston Bar.

Howgego, 32, of Wycliffe Avenue, Tang Hall, pleaded guilty to one charge of affray, one of possessing a crossbow in public, three of carrying knives in public, five of possessing crossbow bolts in public, driving whilst disqualified and without insurance on Albert Street on April 4, driving whilst disqualified and without insurance on the A166 near Full Sutton on Wednesday (May 9) and resisting a police officer on Fifth Avenue, Tang Hall on March 29.

He was on a nine-month suspended prison sentence at the time for two offences of supplying heroin to undercover police officers.

Magistrates decided his latest offences were so serious he should be sentenced by a judge and committed him to York Crown Court where he is expected to appear on June 8.

His solicitor, Keith Haggerty, reserved mitigation until the crown court appearance.