Drunk wielding a BB gun avoids jail
A Gateshead man has avoided jail after pointing an imitation firearm at a ‘terrified’ young man’s head.
Drunk Sean McCrystal was in the entrance hall of Lough Court flats, in Beacon Lough, when he came across a 21-year-old man returning to the block at around 8.45pm on March 19.
As the young man opened the door he looked at McCrystal who shouted ‘what?’ in an aggressive manner, the court heard.
McCrystal began laughing and when asked what he found funny, he responded: “I’m Sean, I’m laughing at nobody.”
The 55-year-old then pulled out an imitation firearm and pointed it at the head of the victim, who was “terrified” and had no idea the gun wasn’t real. It was only when McCrystal pulled the trigger the man discovered the weapon was in fact a BB gun, which had been confiscated from his son.
The victim was angry with McCrystal for his actions, who replied: “I just want everyone to leave me alone. I’ve not done anything wrong.”
The caretaker of the building arrived at the scene and confirmed he did not have either party down as troublemakers.
He called the police and McCrystal gave a full admission and cooperated with officers.
During interview, McCrystal said: “I wish it [the gun] was real. I would have put a bullet through his head.”
McCrystal, of Binsby Gardens, Gateshead, later pleaded guilty to being in possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or violence.
He appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday for a sentencing hearing.
Tony Cornberg, mitigating, agreed with the sentencing guidance proposed by the prosecution. McCrystal was visibly emotional in the dock as Judge Penny Moreland spared him jail.
She told him: “On March 19 you took out at the entrance hall at the flats a BB gun before pointing it at a young man. It seems you were drunk at the time.
“You came by the gun in an innocent way after confiscating it from your son. This is a sentence that meets a custodial sentence.”
McCrystal was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, with an electronic curfew between 7pm and 7am for a twomonth period.
He was also ordered to complete nine months of drug rehabilitation requirement and 20 days of rehabilitation activity requirement.