A man who shot a doctor with a crossbow because he blamed him for his father’s death has been jailed for 20 years.

Mark Waterfall, 46, of Fairhaven Crescent, South Oxhey, was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court today after being previously found guilty by a jury on January 9.

The court heard how Waterfall went to Suthergrey House Medical Centre in Watford with a loaded crossbow stashed in a plastic bag on July 10 last year.

Watford Observer:

Mark Waterfall

He burst into the GP’s consultation room and told the doctor he was going to kill him before shooting him in the midriff.

The doctor had been his family’s GP for years.

Loose clothing worn by the doctor meant the dart only penetrated his skin by 1cm.

Waterfall then fled the surgery with the doctor following him, trying to convince him to hand himself in to police.

The GP then went back inside to have his wound dressed by a colleague.

Waterfall went to Watford Police Station and confessed to the shocking attack.

He was arrested and searched whereupon police found a USB stick strapped to his toe holding files documenting his hatred for the doctor.

Watford Observer:

The crossbow dart

The court heard Waterfall’s motivation for the crossbow attack was because he blamed the GP for his father’s death a few days prior on July 6.

His father, 70s, had been examined for breathlessness but the doctor had found fluid on his lungs and referred him to Watford General Hospital.

But further tests found Waterfall’s father had advanced lung cancer and he died the following day.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Lewis Mortimer, from the Watford Local Crime Unit, said: “This was a frightening ordeal for the victim who was just going about his daily business at his workplace.

“Thankfully, due to the fact his shirt was loosened on that day, he did not suffer life-changing or life-threatening injuries.

“I would like to commend the victim for his actions, and for the professionalism and resilience he has shown throughout the resulting judicial process.

“Those who have lost a parent can likely identify with the grief that Waterfall must have no doubt been feeling after the death of his father. However, the actions he took on July 10 last year were way beyond that of a reasonable person.”

Waterfall must serve at least two thirds of his sentence before being considering for parole.

Upon release he will be subject to an extended licence of five years.