A man who fired a sawn-off shotgun into a Wrington pub’s floor has been jailed for six years, despite being left unconscious in an incident following the fiery confrontation.

North Somerset Times: Keith Hayward was jailed for six years after the incident at the Golden Lion pub, in Wrington.Keith Hayward was jailed for six years after the incident at the Golden Lion pub, in Wrington. (Image: Archant)

Keith Hayward, aged 51, visited the Golden Lion in Broad Street on August 7, but ended up in an argument which turned violent in the pub’s back yard area.

Grandfather Hayward is then said to have left the pub, but he later returned armed with a loaded single-barrel 12-gauge shotgun, which was fired into the floor when a courageous customer disarmed him.

Another altercation which followed then saw Hayward, who is a former jockey, knocked unconscious and taken to hospital.

Hayward, of Lye Cross Road in Redhill, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a prohibited firearm and one count of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear or violence.

He was jailed for six years at Bristol Crown Court on October 12.

The pub was taken over last year by Wickwar Brewery and the firm introduced a series of changes after the incident to make the venue a more welcoming place.

These included hosting a quiz night, setting up a five-a-side football league, welcoming dogs into the pub and introducing a limited food menu.

The brewery’s executive chairman Mike Watts condemned the incident and thanked the pub’s customers for coming to the rescue that night.

Mr Watts said: “There are three of us who run the brewery and we have been involved in the pub industry for our working lives. I have never had this sort of thing happen in any of the pubs I have ever run.

“We were all shocked by it. It wasn’t pleasant for the customers and it wasn’t pleasant for the manager.

“This sort of activity is not something we will tolerate.”