Grandfather jailed for brandishing gun during family dispute

A great-grandfather pulled a gun on his granddaughter during a heated family argument, leading to his arrest.

Martin Gordon, 64, was detained in Dudley, West Midlands, on August 11 last year after being filmed brandishing a pistol on a residential street. The altercation began when Gordon stormed into the Samson and Lion pub in Wordsley to confront his granddaughter over the removal of his wife’s ashes from the mantelpiece.

The dispute escalated when Gordon’s grandson wielded a baseball bat, while Gordon himself waved a gun at his granddaughter. The chaotic scene was streamed live on Facebook. Armed police responded swiftly, tracking Gordon to an industrial unit on Pensnett Road, Brierley Hill, around 40 minutes later.

Officers found him sitting in a black Range Rover and forced him to the ground before making the arrest. Gordon was in possession of a gun, a magazine of blank bullets, a pickaxe handle, and two tasers. A search of his home also uncovered a live round of ammunition in his sink. He was charged with possessing a firearm, having ammunition without a licence, and two counts of possessing a taser.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court, Gordon pleaded guilty, claiming he carried the gun for protection after being robbed of £200,000. On February 13, Judge Jacobs sentenced him to five years in prison, describing the incident as something out of a television soap opera. Det Sgt Nightingale, from West Midlands Police, said: “Gordon brandished this weapon in full view of the public, making no effort to hide it. Quick work by officers ensured we located him and recovered the firearm swiftly. We remain committed to tackling gun crime—removing weapons from the streets and putting offenders behind bars.”

As part of Operation Target, aimed at combatting serious and organised crime, West Midlands Police seized over 200 firearms in 2024.