Family of six-year-old Stanley Metcalf who was accidentally shot dead with an air rifle by his great grandfather slam decision to free him 18 months into three year jail sentence

The family of a six-year-old boy who was accidentally shot dead with an air rifle by his great grandfather have slammed the decision to free him 18 months into his three year jail sentence.  

Albert Grannon, 79, has never apologised for the death of Stanley Metcalf at the retired shipbuilder's home in Sproatley, East Yorkshire in July 2018. 

Stanley's family have been left stunned to learn the boy's killer, who was sent down in 2019, is due to be released on licence this week.

The young boy died after being hit by a ricochet from the air rifle Grannon fired on at a family gathering to mourn the loss of Grannon's fireman son Andrew who had died in 2003.

Albert Grannon, 79, shot his great-greandson Stanley Metcalf, six, at the retired shipbuilder's home in Sproatley, East Yorkshire in July 2018

The great-grandfather has never apologised for Stanley's death and claims the shot ricocheted when it left his air rifle

Grannon was seen taking Stanley inside to show him his illegal air rifle which he had bought for £90 to shoot rats, rabbits and squirrels. 

The weapon had been modified with a more powerful spring, was loaded and had the safety catch off.

When those outside heard a loud bang, Stanley's mum Jenny Dees had thought her son was play acting as he lay dying.

It was only when her mother, Grannon's eldest daughter Kathryn, lifted the boy up to carry him out into the garden Jenny spotted a wound in Stanley's abdomen the 'size of a 5p piece'.

Stanley's family have been left stunned to learn the boy's killer, who was sent down in 2019, is due to be released on licence this week. Stanley pictured with his mother Jenny

The weapon which shot Stanley (pictured with his twin sister Elsie)  had been modified with a more powerful spring, was loaded and had the safety catch off

He bled to death less than two hours later at Hull Royal Infirmary.

Grannon claimed that the pellet had ricocheted off the kitchen floor until forensic experts discredited his version of events stating it went directly into his stomach.

On the day after what would have been Stanley's seventh birthday, a post from Grannon and his wife on social media showed them posing and smiling for pictures on a cruise holiday.

He finally admitted manslaughter at Sheffield Crown Court in 2019. 

The judge, Mr Justice Lavender, told Grannon: 'You ended a young life and you brought lifelong grief and misery to his parents and to the whole of his family.'

He told Grannon, who showed no emotion as he stood to be sentenced: 'What you did was obviously a very dangerous thing to do. Why on earth did you do it?'

Stanley's mother Jenny Dees and father Andrew Metcalf made a statement to media outside Sheffield Crown Court after Albert Grannon was jailed for three years in 2019

The young boy died after being hit by a ricochet from the air rifle at a family gathering to mourn the loss of Grannon's fireman son Andrew who had died in 2003. Pictured: Grannon's home in Sproatley

Now the family has been informed by the probation service that Grannon is due to be released from prison on licence this week after 17-months behind bars.

A family member revealed they will be told about his release on the same day he is allowed out.

'It was something that should never have happened,' they said.

'There were multiple actions on that day, from him loading that gun to squeezing the trigger, where if they hadn't happened the chances are Stanley would still be here.'

Grannon will serve the remainder of his sentence on licence in the community.

He can only be recalled to prison if he commits another offence or if he breaches the terms of his licence.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said: 'Offenders released on licence are closely monitored and can be returned to prison if they breach strict conditions such as curfews and exclusion zones.'