ADRIAN THORSBY FROM BURTON AGNES TARGETS FAMILY IN KILNSEA GROVE WITH SHOTGUN IN VENGEANCE ATTACK

In February 2013, a disturbing incident unfolded in the quiet village of Burton Agnes, involving a convicted sex offender who resorted to violence in a shocking act of retaliation. Adrian Thorsby, aged 49, armed himself with a shotgun and traveled over 30 miles from his home in Burton Agnes to Kilnsea Grove in Sutton, where he carried out a reckless and dangerous attack on a family residence.

The events took place just two days after Thorsby was granted bail pending sentencing for a previous sex assault on a young girl. The timing and nature of his actions suggest a possible motive rooted in anger and perceived slights related to his criminal record. On the day of the incident, Thorsby deliberately targeted the home of Lisa Thompson and her partner, Andrew Steam, who are parents to four young children aged five and under.

According to court reports, Thorsby parked his vehicle in broad daylight outside the family’s residence. Without warning, he aimed his firearm out of the driver's side window and discharged a single cartridge directly at the front room of the house. The shots shattered the window, causing significant damage, but fortunately, the family members were not in the living room at the time. The children, who were playing upstairs, were spared from harm, though the occupants of the house were understandably terrified by the sudden gunfire.

Prosecutor David Hall provided details of the incident during proceedings at Hull Crown Court, stating, “It seems that rumour and gossip and reports of the case spread around Hull. There were reports of him being a paedophile. He was unhappy about this. He parked outside the home in broad daylight. He aimed the gun out of the front driver’s side of the vehicle and discharged one cartridge at the front living room window. He then drove off. Fortunately, they were not in the living room. The defendant was not to know who was in the living room when he discharged the weapon, as he did it without warning. The shots were plainly heard and frightened the occupants.”

Thorsby’s actions were driven by his belief that the family had called him a paedophile, a rumor that had circulated in the community. The conviction for this belief was reinforced when, on November 18, 2011, a jury at Hull Crown Court found Thorsby guilty of two sex offences committed against a six-year-old girl. Despite denying involvement initially, Thorsby admitted to the shooting only on the day of his trial when evidence was presented against him, including mobile phone records placing him at the scene. The family members recognized Thorsby and his vehicle immediately and promptly contacted the police.

Thorsby was arrested approximately 12 hours after the incident. During sentencing, Judge Graham Robinson addressed the court, emphasizing the danger posed by Thorsby’s actions. He stated, “All of the children would have been expected to be in that living room, but fortunately for them, they were playing upstairs. You did not know that.”

Ultimately, Thorsby was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for possessing a shotgun with intent to cause fear of violence, a conviction that underscores the seriousness of his reckless behavior and the threat it posed to innocent lives in Burton Agnes and Sutton.