Man shot outside over face mask row suffers sleepless nights

Stephan Reynolds had no idea the barrel aimed at him by Jamal Abdi was from a BB gun.

The 58-year-old had confronted his attacker, of Soberton Road, Bournemouth, for not wearing a mask inside the a post office just moments before.

Stephan Reynolds outside Southampton Crown Court.

When he walked out of the branch in Shirley Avenue, Southampton, he heard the sound of three or four shots.

One of them hit his head leaving him with a small wound.

Stephan said he is now much more nervous since the attack on September 23 last year.

• Man shot victim after being told he should wear Covid-19 mask

Abdi, 26, was charged with possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and two counts of possessing an imitation firearm.

He pleaded guilty to the offences and was jailed for 12-months, suspended for two years.

He must pay £500 in compensation and do 200 hours in unpaid work.

Shirley Post Office in Shirley Avenue.

Speaking to a Daily Echo reporter after the sentencing on Monday, Stephan was critical of the result.

He said: “It means criminals can get away with things without worrying.

“I feel sorry for the police as well. The amount of effort they put into this and yes they got a conviction, but you know, not a great one.”

The financial consultant read his victim personal statement during the court hearing.

In it, he said: “I can’t believe this all happened because I asked someone to put a mask on.”

He told that he was terrified at the time and how he used to be a confident person.

But now, he suffers sleepless nights and flashbacks.

Ultimately, the event has “changed his life completely”.

Jamal Abdi after his sentencing at Southampton Crown Court on September 27, 2021

“Now I’m looking over my shoulder. It’s not been nice,” he added.

Prosecution barrister, Timothy Moores previously said: “He just could not believe what was happening at the time. He was in fear for his life.”

Southampton Crown Court heard how when Abdi was caught speeding in 2019 he was found in possession of cocaine and a knuckleduster.

His defence barrister, Johan Grefstad, described the former medical student as a highly intelligent and motivated young man.

The court heard how Abdi told Stephan: “I do not have to [wear a mask],” and that he “did not know what he was talking about”.