A MAN who shot and injured a burglar trying to steal cannabis plants from his rural home is to appear before the crown court to face firearms offences.

Malcolm White, formerly of Stocking Gobbetts, Stocking Lane, Whitbourne is facing a charge of production of cannabis.

He further faces three counts of possession of firearms of a length of less than 30cms, five counts of possession of a firearm without a certificate, a charge of possessing prohibited ammunition and five counts of possession of ammunition without a certificate.

White was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following a burglary at his then home in Whitbourne on October 5 last year.

At the time, two men attempted to break in while White and his partner were at home, causing White to shoot one of them in the leg. Earlier this month, those two men were convicted of attempted aggravated burglary and await sentencing.

Prosecutors have been awaiting the outcome of that trial before making any decisions on an attempted murder charge.

Separately, White was bailed, and while he is set to face the firearms charges, prosecutors said they have not yet made a decision on the attempted murder matter. White’s case is due to go before Worcester Crown Court on Friday, November 30.

West Mercia Police spokeswoman Sarah Buxton said: “A man in his 60s who was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in October 2011, following a burglary at a house in Whitbourne on October 6, 2011, in which one of the offenders was shot, and was subsequently bailed in connection with that offence.

“Following the conviction of two men last week for committing the burglary, the matter of the shooting is currently being looked at by the courts to see if there are any charges to answer in relation to this aspect of the case."

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman confirmed “no decision” had been made on an attempted murder charge.

Robert Richards, aged 29, of Scholars Green, Birmingham, and accomplice Darren Randall, 25, of Yardley Fields Road, Birmingham, were convicted of attempted aggravated burglary, on Tuesday, November 6.