Gun stunt was ‘a cry for help’

A GOLD Coast dad who threatened another man with a “bag of guns” after he was refused a cigarette admitted his actions were “pretty f***ing stupid”.

Mick Danny Jones pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday to going armed to cause fear.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Erin Livingstone told the court Jones was on Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise, when the 39year-old showed a member of the public two long firearms in a bag.

The guns were gel blasters, which are non-lethal toy guns.

Jones then asked for a cigarette from a passer-by.

She said the man called Jones a “scumbag” and told him to “f*** off”.

The court was told Jones then removed a gel blaster shaped like a Glock pistol from the bag and pointed it towards the man.

Sgt Livingstone said the man later told police that it was “pretty f***ing stupid”.

“Gel blasters are not illegal although his actions speak that he intended to go armed to cause fear,” she said.

Magistrate Gary Finger sentenced him to 18 months probation.

“If you keep coming back here you are going to go in (to prison),” he said.

“You don’t want to go there and we don’t want to send you there.

“If you don’t get help that is what is going to happen.”

Defence lawyer Mollie Roper said Jones had been seeking help for an alcohol addiction.

She said he had stopped drinking after the incident and had only one slip up about two weeks ago.

“Putting my client in custody would only send him backwards,” she said.

Ms Roper said having the gel blasters in a bag was a “cry for help”. Prior to the incident Jones had moved out of his family home in an effort to get control of his addiction.