Fake gun threat teen jailed for nine months
AN 18-YEAR-OLD, who threatened another teenager with a realistic-looking gun in a skateboard park, has been jailed for nine months.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that the incident happened in Coronation Park, in Ormskirk, on the afternoon of March 30 this year and the 18-year-old victim, Michael Kime, was left shaken by the incident.
The culprit, Jake Addison, denied being at the park but when CCTV footage was examined it showed that he was there.
After he was sentenced to an immediate term of detention, his mum and other relatives and friends in the public gallery left the court in tears and shouting their disbelief.
Graham Pickavance, prosecuting, said that, while Mr Kime was at the park, a friend he was with, Kate Jones, received a phone call from Addison saying he had a gun and was coming to the skateboard park “to have Mike.”
“Shortly afterwards, the defendant and another male approached and Mr Kime walked away.
“But the defendant changed direction and followed him. He went up to Michael Kime and pointed a black hand gun at him.
“He said to him, ‘If I see you again, I am going to **** ing cap you.’ He then walked away,” said Mr Pickavance.
Just after midnight, police went to Addison’s home in Skelmersdale to arrest him and found on his bed a Webley replica gun.
His mobile phone was examined and on it was a video of him talking about cleaning the gun and saying he thought it was real and was going to sell it for £600.
Addison, 18, of Durham Street, Skelmersdale, pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
Michael Hagerty, defending, said that Addison had no previous convictions and was genuinely remorseful.
He had considerable problems, including ADHD, anorexia, learning difficulties and autism, and genetic kidney problems meant he will ultimately need a transplant.
“He finds it difficult to understand the world in the way others do and would not have been able to consider the consequences of having the gun,” said Mr Hagerty.