Teenager who walked into college with gun and a knife detained for five years

A TEENAGER who sparked panic when he walked into a college carrying a gun and a knife has been locked up for five years and six months.

Sandijs Dreimanis, 18, pointed the imitation firearm at a member of staff and pulled the trigger during dramatic scenes at Crawley College, West Sussex, in April 2020.

He did so with the intention of being shot by armed police, Lewes Crown Court heard.

After walking around the campus he took out the firearm and pointed it at teachers, pulling the trigger.

Gunshots were heard ringing out on the college premises, sparking a huge police response, with dozens of armed officers going to the scene.

Two teachers, Simon Wilson and Pete Davidson, eventually tackled Dreimanis, sustaining minor injuries.

No serious injuries were reported during the incident and a blank-firing handgun and a knife were seized by police.

At Lewes Crown Court yesterday, Dreimanis, of Crawley, was sentenced to a total of five years and six months at a Young Offender Institution, because he was under 18 at the time of the offence.

He had been due to go on trial in January over the charge of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, but changed his plea to guilty.

It came after he had already admitted two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of a bladed article on a school premises.

During the sentencing, Judge Christine Laing said she bore in mind the psychiatric reports from doctors, one of whom had diagnosed him with an “emotionally unstable personality order”.

But she added: “It is quite clear you planned it.”

She also said: “I do accept that your aim was to get shot by the police but I’m without doubt that you would have garnered a considerable amount of satisfaction over the fear you would engender among the students and staff.”