Two arrested after shooting (From Free Press Series)

Two arrested after shooting

TWO Monmouth men, in their early twenties, have been arrested in connection with an armed incident in the Wonastow Road area of the town on Monday afternoon.

A 42-year-old Parcel Force delivery driver had just dropped of a consignment at the Singleton Court business complex, and was driving along Wonastow Road towards the town, when he heard a loud pop noise come into the cab through the open window.

He instantly felt a pain in his arm and when he looked down he saw that his arm was bleeding badly.

The driver immediately pulled into the nearby filling station and asked Kevin Pritchard, who was behind the counter of Wonastow Road Filling Station, where the nearest hospital was.

Mr Pritchard said: "He came in holding his shoulder and my mother-in-law Diane Phelps, a nurse, took a look and said that he had been shot with an air rifle. The pellet was still in his shoulder."

Mr Pritchard contacted the emergency services, informing them that the driver had been shot.

Armed police officers immediately arrived at the scene of the incident, which occurred at approximately 2.50pm and promptly sealed off the whole of the industrial area.

Mr Pritchard added: "We are all shocked. You don't get this sort of thing happening in Monmouth."

The injured driver, who has worked for Parcel Force for 13 years and lives in Newport, was conveyed by ambulance to Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny, where he was treated for minor injuries and released a short time later.

A spokesman for Parcel Force said: "We take all matters of security and safety very seriously.

"The driver, who makes regular deliveries to Monmouth, was very shaken by the turn of events, and we are offering him counselling to enable him to get over the incident.

"We are grateful to the police for such a swift response and for a successful conclusion to the incident."

A police spokesman also confirmed that an airgun had been recovered following a search of the local area.

The two men have now been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Gwent police would urge anyone with information about the incident to contact them by telephoning 01633 838111.