Drunk man who shot himself in face is jailed

Anthony McCall had been drinking before handled the self-loading pistol

A man who accidentally shot himself in the face while drunk has been jailed for more than five years.

Anthony McCall discharged the self-loading pistol at a house in St Helens, Merseyside, on the afternoon of 11 June.

Merseyside Police said he needed surgery and it later "transpired that McCall had accidentally fired the weapon into his own face".

The 36-year-old was convicted of firearms offences at Liverpool Crown Court.

The self-loading pistol McCall injured himself with

McCall, of Valiant Close in West Derby, Liverpool, was jailed for five years and four months.

He was convicted of possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition without a certificate and possession of a firearm and ammunition when prohibited for life.

Det Insp John Mullen said: “This highly unusual case shows the extreme danger posed by firearms, not only to those who are targeted in our communities, but those who handle them without the necessary expertise or, in this case, sobriety.

“I hope this serves as a sobering reminder for anyone who would store, carry or mind a firearm and ammunition."