Bridport: Couple describe moment bullet smashes window

The mystery gunman aimed their weapon at Nick and Iris Gregory's bungalow in Wanderwell, Bridport in the middle of the afternoon.

The bullet - which appears to be a steel ball bearing probably fired from an air weapon - shattered a pane of glass in a double glazed window in the conservatory before getting lodged between the two panes.

Mr Gregory was sat in his usual chair in the conservatory directly in the line of fire and fears he would have been struck if the bullet had travelled any further.

Mr and Mrs Gregory, who are 84 and 83, have been together for 63 years and are originally from the Milton Keynes area. They moved to Bridport to retire around 20 years ago.

They have been left ‘frightened’ following the shocking incident on Friday afternoon (October 18).

The bullet remained lodged in the double glazing (Image: Alfie Lumb) Mr Gregory, who was sat in his favourite chair in the conservatory, described the terrifying experience.

He said: “At around 4.20pm, after our neighbours had just left, Iris handed me the paper and went to make a cup of tea. As I opened the pages, I heard an enormous bang - imagine a balloon popping and times that by a hundred.

The bullet hole in the conservatory (Image: Alfie Lumb) “I was shocked for a minute, and rushed outside to see if anyone threw a brick or a stone, then I looked at the window and saw a bullet in the glass.”

He believes he could have been hit if the bullet had penetrated the window and come through into the conservatory.

Mr Gregory sat in his chair, from the outside of the conservatory, showing where the bullet could have ended up (Image: Alfie Lumb) Mrs Gregory said: “I was panicked and frightened. It’s made me worried, and I feel sick if I’m honest - I’m still shaking. It almost hurt my husband and thank God for the double glazing - that’s what saved him.

“I don’t think it was ‘meant’ for us, but I’m worried because there is someone out there who still has a gun. It makes you fidgety and just unwell. It's a horrible experience when you're in your 80s.”

Mrs Gregory pointing out the bullet hole in her conservatory (Image: Alfie Lumb) The couple believe the shot may have been fired from an area close to the Crown Roundabout which is behind their home. A lane runs to the rear of their property up towards the car park of the Crown Inn. 

Mrs Gregory said: “The neighbours didn’t hear anything, and it was a busy time of day with the (Crown) pub car park also busy with people just finishing work- but nobody saw anything.

“Luckily for us, we have very good neighbours who wanted to check in on us, and stayed with us late into the night as I was in a state.”

Mr Gregory sat in his conservatory chair, with two of his great grandchildren (Image: Alfie Lumb) She added: “We have great-grandchildren who go in the conservatory all the time when they’re visiting, and thank God they weren’t. Some of them even sit on their grandad’s knee in the same chair- it really doesn’t bear thinking about.

“You wouldn’t think of something like this happening in Bridport really.”

After calling the police three times to try and report the incident on Friday, officers had not visited the couple by the time the News spoke to them on Saturday.

Mrs Gregory pointing out the hole in her conservatory and the bullet, below (Image: Alfie Lumb) To ‘protect themselves’ and ensure this kind of incident does not happen again, the couple are intending to let the bushes outside the property grow ‘higher and higher’ in order to screen their property.

Daughter Jean Glover, who lives in Chideock and was quick to check up on her parents, said: “The after-effects have really made them feel shocked. Their conservatory is their refuge and their place of rest.

"My parents don’t ask for help a lot, they are independent. It’s a real shock to the family - especially those who can’t be with them as they live further away.

"I’m disappointed by the police response.”

Neighbour George, who left the home shortly before the gun was fired, returned to check up on the couple.

He said: “It was a frightening experience for them. Iris was terrified but we all came over to help and sit with them.”

Dorset Police have been approached for comment.