A man accused of shooting another motorist in the Cotswolds village of Lechlade is due to stand trial at Gloucester Crown Court on 19 October, following months of legal proceedings that began at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court.
What Happened
Emergency services were called to Butler’s Field in Lechlade at around 7.10pm on Monday, 20 April, after reports that a man had shot another man who was sitting stationary in his vehicle. The victim, a man in his thirties, sustained serious injuries. Despite his condition, he managed to drive a short distance before seeking help at a nearby property, where paramedics and police located him. He was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Armed officers were deployed and a Gloucestershire Police helicopter was scrambled to hunt for the gunman, who had fled the scene. Investigators recovered a firearm at the location. A suspect was arrested later that evening in Fairford — approximately four miles from the scene — at around 10pm.
Charges and Court Proceedings
Benjamin Reynolds, 28, of Springfield Road, Quenington — a village in the Cotswold District near Fairford — appeared before Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on 22 April. He was remanded in custody and sent to Gloucester Crown Court, where he has been charged with three offences: attempting to murder Matthew Goodall, possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, and possessing a shotgun without a certificate. Reynolds has pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains on remand. His trial is scheduled to begin on 19 October and is expected to last five days.
Background
Lechlade-on-Thames is a small Cotswolds market town that sits on the boundary of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, popular with tourists for its riverside setting and historic St Lawrence’s Church. Butler’s Field is a residential street in the town. Following the shooting in April, Gloucestershire Constabulary made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) owing to prior police contact with individuals involved in the case. The IOPC subsequently referred the matter back to the force to handle in a reasonable and proportionate manner, with no formal direction to investigate.
Inspector Philippa Moore, from the Cotswolds Neighbourhood Policing Team, said at the time: “I don’t underestimate how frightening this incident would have been for those involved and living nearby. My colleagues in CID have worked tirelessly investigating this incident since it happened in order to secure charges quickly, with a suspect now remanded in custody and facing court proceedings. I hope that brings some reassurance to those who have been impacted by what’s happened.”
What Happens Next
The trial of Benjamin Reynolds is listed to begin at Gloucester Crown Court on Monday, 19 October, with proceedings expected to run across five days. If convicted of attempted murder, Reynolds faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. This is a developing story and will be updated as the trial progresses.
