Man pointed gun at copper

Sam Wesley, 22, of Meadow Drive, was seen banging his head against his car steering wheel on Carlton Road on 10th February said Laura Pitman, prosecuting, at Nottingham Crown Court.

Police were called. The officer saw Wesley walk away from the car and asked if he was OK. Wesley swore at him and the officer decided to detain him.

“He had a dark coloured handgun in his hand. He pointed it at the officer, who asked him to put it down,” said Miss Pitman.

Wesley did not respond then pointed the gun at his own head. The officer disarmed him. Wesley was crying and said: ‘I wish I’d fired into my temple.’

He said his car had broken down and everything in his life was going wrong. He had the gun because he had been rabbiting. It was not loaded.

Martin Elwick, defending, accepted the officer must have been fearful for his safety. He said Wesley had been going through a psychiatric crisis but had made a remarkable change.

Wesley admitted possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. He was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years.