ARCHITECT IS JAILED OVER CLOSE-RANGE ‘GUN’ THREAT
AIR RIFLE COLLECTOR ‘FRIGHTENED THE LIFE OUT OF’ DOOR-TO-DOOR SALESMAN
A “law-abiding” architect who “frightened the life” out of a doorto-door salesman by threatening to shoot him has been jailed.
Martin Belt, 53, was under the impression that a man who worked for an energy switch company was actually trying to con elderly people out of their bank details in the street he lived in.
Belt, a collector of air rifles, picked up a life-like gun and walked out of his home in Cardigan Road, Bridlington, to confront the young man, Hull Crown Court heard.
After asking him to leave, Belt pointed the gun at him at close range and threatened to shoot him if he ever came back.
“The complainant was terrified,” Judge Mark Bury said. “He said he feared for his life because anything might have happened.
“There was a clear possibility you would shoot him and you were at close range. There was little chance of surviving, he said a bullet, at that distance.
“He was not to know it was not a real firearm.”
It was in fact a BB gun and Belt went on trial at Hull Crown Court for possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear.
A jury was quick to favour the complainant and found Belt, who came across as “arrogant” and “dismissive” during trial, guilty of the charge.
Judge Bury said: “You went out into the street to confront a young man who was working for an energy switch company and going door-todoor.
“You had it in your head that he was somebody who was approaching elderly people and demanding their bank details. There is no evidence of that, in my view.
“The complainant in the trial seemed to me to be very down to earth, quietly spoken and there was nothing aggressive or pushy about him.
“Your evidence was disbelieved by the jury. In it you were very dismissive and never once called the complainant by his correct name.
“In the end you said ‘or whatever his name’.
“You came across as arrogant and someone whose credibility was not great. It was, therefore, hardly surprising that, when it came to a decision, the jury didn’t take long to agree it was the complainant who was telling the truth.”
Belt, a single parent, had a valuable collection of air rifles at his home but cleared them out of his property following the incident.
“There are no weapons of any description now in that property,” said mitigating barrister Mr Walker.
“The defendant brought the incident to an end by simply walking back to his home. He is, of course, a man of no previous convictions until this incident.
“In fact, neighbours testify to Mr Belt’s stable family home, his helpfulness as a neighbour and the closeness of his family unit.
“He does accept the verdict of the jury and he accepts the complainant must have been put in fear and certainly would have had an impact on him through his own fault.”
Belt, who also works as a selfemployed architect, is still waiting to hear back on whether he can continue in his profession, which has been put in jeopardy by this offence.
Mr Walker submitted to Judge Bury that Belt, a man with no previous convictions, could be given a suspended sentence.
“I’m afraid an immediate custodial sentence is inevitable,” said Judge Bury, addressing Belt in the dock.
“The weapon was, of course, an imitation firearm, however, it was very life-like and the complainant was of the view that it was genuine.
“You intended, in my view, to frighten the life out of him and that’s exactly what you did.
“I can’t avoid an immediate custodial sentence.”
Belt was given an 18-month prison sentence.