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Mayor to take stand in shotgun trial

A MAYOR is due to give evidence in the trial of two men accused of threatening and racially abusing a black man with a shotgun.

Cllr Pauline Tunnicliffe, the Mayor of Bromley, called 999 to report an incident in Orpington High Street that allegedly involved father and son Colin, 60, and Lewis Blows, 18.

Another defendant, Daniel Hoath, 19, denies possession of a firearm.

Subhankar Banerjee, prosecuting, told the jury at Croydon Crown Court on Tuesday that an altercation occured between the Blows and a group of men outside the Walnuts Shopping Centre during which they racially abused and pushed Joseph Francis.

Colin Blows is said to have armed himself with a broken bottle he found on the ground and threatened members of Mr Francis' group.

Mr Banerjee said the three defendants then walked to a Land Rover Discovery parked nearby and that Lewis Blows, who was just 17 at the time, removed a shotgun from the back of the vehicle.

Another witness heard someone at the scene say: "If they want f****** trouble, they can have it."

Cllr Tunnicliffe, due to take the stand on Wednesday morning, is then said to have witnessed Lewis Blows driving the Land Rover past Mr Francis while Colin Blows wielded the shotgun.

Mr Banerjee said: "Colin Blows pointed that shotgun out of the window at Mr Francis whilst again hurling further obscenities."

Hoath was sitting in the back of the Land Rover, the court heard.

Colin and Lewis Blows of State Farm Avenue, Orpington, and Hoath of Lloyds Way, Beckenham deny possessing a firearm on Sunday, December 10, 2006.

Colin and Lewis Blows also deny one count of affray. All are on bail.

The trial continues.

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