Fake gun pulled in row over fires
NEIGHBOURS’ CLASH OVER BURNING RUBBISH ESCALATES
A DISGRUNTLED neighbour pulled an imitation firearm on the man living next door during a heated clash over bonfires.
Wayne Hopkins produced the BB gun with the intention of causing fear of violence after he was confronted over repeatedly burning rubbish in his garden in Wallsend.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that the 54-year-old lost his temper and brought the air weapon out of his house before holding it as he approached his neighbour at the fence.
The victim’s wife, who was watching the incident unfold from an upstairs window, immediately phoned the police, prompting Hopkins to retreat into his home, drop the gun, and start apologising.
Now, Hopkins, of Norfolk Gardens, has avoided an immediate stint in jail after he pleaded guilty to one count of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
Michael Bunch, prosecuting, said tensions had been rising between Hopkins and his neighbour over “repeated garden fires” in the weeks prior to the offence.
At around 6.40pm on April 20 this year, the victim approached Hopkins over their fence after he saw him stacking rubbish and believed he was going to set it alight.
Mr Bunch added: “The conversation ended up in a full-blown argument and the defendant went into his own address and returned holding a black handgun in his left hand.
“Initially, he was holding it in the air but, as he got closer to [the victim], he placed it beside his leg.”
The court heard the victim reacted “with fear”, as his wife phoned the police.
On learning officers were en route, Hopkins returned the weapon to his house and became apologetic, claiming it was a “water gun”.
He eventually handed the gaspowered BB-style gun over to the police when they arrived.
David Callan, defending, said Hopkins, who has 60 offences on his record, suffered from severe mental health issues and hadn’t been in trouble for nearly 10 years.
He added: “The defendant says he was not waving the gun around. It’s an immediate guilty plea and a spontaneous apology to his neighbour.”
Hopkins was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and was made subject of an indefinite restraining order, which banned him from contacting or communicating with his neighbour.
Judge Sarah Mallet said: “Your neighbour raised entirely justifiable problems about you burning rubbish in your garden and that escalated into an argument, which led to you going back in your house and coming out with a black handgun.”