A neighbour who lived near convicted crossbow shooter Jason King has urged that his abandoned house be tended to after trees and hedges on the property have overgrown.

King, 54, stabbed a man in his 60s before shooting a police officer along School Close in Downley on May 10 this year.

He has since been charged with several crimes following the incident nearly six months ago, and he is due to be sentenced in January of next year.

Following his apprehension, the house has been left abandoned as King remains in custody, meaning his shrubbery has not been trimmed in that time.

It has now overgrown onto the pavement, which causes members of the public to walk into the road.

There is also a large amount of litter in the front of the house, mainly consisting of plastic bottles.

One of King’s neighbours, Liliam Munby, 86, told the Free Press that she feels ‘sorry’ for those in the area who are forced to make their way onto the road, and hopes something can be done soon.

She said: “I wish someone would do something about the house and the hedge.

“I feel really sorry for people with prams and pushchairs in this area, as they can’t get around parked cars.

“Also, due to the size of the hedge, this means that people have to go into the middle of the road and that’s not safe when you’re with small children, or people like me.

“It has not been tended to in the time.”

During the rampage which caused parts of the parish to go into lockdown, King broke two windows of the property to shoot at the police.

When he left his house after the authorities arrived, he would then fire his archaic weapon at one officer, PC Curtis Foster.

The policeman suffered a leg injury and was taken to hospital for treatment.

King was then shot by another member of Thames Valley Police, where he suffered ‘life-changing injuries’.

Both the victim who was stabbed, along PC Foster, have made full recoveries, with the latter returning to work.

However, despite the crime happening half a year ago, parts of the property have remained untouched in that time.

A wooden board has been placed to cover one of the broken windows, but the other remains visible for members of the public to see.

We approached Buckinghamshire Council for a comment, and they said: “The hedge is the responsibility of the property owner in this instance and so they would be responsible for dealing with it.

“The council only has responsibility when on the public highway or in a public place: Report overgrown grass, hedges or weeds | Buckinghamshire Council."

King, who will be sentenced on January 31, 2025, has convicted of the following crimes: 

  • One count of section 20 grievous bodily harm and affray
  • One count of section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to a serious assault on police officer
  • One count of possession of an offensive weapon (crossbow)
  • One count of possession of a bladed article