Man jailed after firing shotgun towards house

Donaldo Mateau has been jailed for 12 and a half years

A man who used a sawn-off shotgun to fire at a house in Solihull has been jailed.

Donaldo Mateau, of Oscott School Lane, Birmingham, drove a van to Brookvale Road in neighbouring Solihull Borough on 13 July, 2024, before climbing out and pointing the weapon at the home, firing twice.

Mateau was later discovered in a property that had been turned into a cannabis farm, where two live firearms as well as ammunition were found hidden in a sofa.

The 25-year-old appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on 19 June and was jailed for 12 and a half years.

He had been found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear or violence. He was also found guilty of possessing a firearm with a barrel shorter than 30cm (12 in) or an overall length less than 60cm (24 in), and possession of another type of weapon.

In addition he was found guilty of possession of firearm ammunition without a certificate.

When officers interviewed Mateau, he denied being responsible for the shooting or knowing anything about it.

He said he had been forced to work at the cannabis farm tending the plants, and knew nothing of the guns inside.

But CCTV examined by officers investigating the shooting saw Mateau use the van earlier that evening, driving to a nearby pub.

He was also spotted changing and replacing the number plates on the van.