Man jailed for terrorising woman with gun

A FATHER of two was jailed for 18 months after pressing the barrel of a gun to the head of a young woman in the street outside her home—leaving her terrified and shaking.

Thomas Adams, of St John’s Road, Eastwood, pulled the imitation Beretta handgun on his unsuspecting neighbour and pressed it to her forehead with such force that it left a mark still evident when police called 55 minutes later.

At Sheffield Crown Court, Judge Peter Kelson slammed the act, stating: “She didn’t know you. She didn’t know it was an imitation gun.

“This woman was so terrified for her life that she urinated herself.

“She was left shaking all night, hysterical and badly upset.”

The incident unfolded after Adams’ victim—a neighbour, living on the same street—went into the street to investigate a bang she had heard at around 10pm on May 17.

At Friday’s hearing, Ms Elizabeth Martin explained that she had looked outside and seen Adams and another man, who were “clearly intoxicated.” She added: “After she explained her concerns he apologised to her.

“He then walked up to her and asked her if her husband was at home. She said no, he wasn’t.

“He pulled out a gun and pushed it up against her forehead.

“The woman in question was so scared that she urinated herself and Mr Adams only took the gun away when the third party he was with said it wasn’t funny and to leave her alone.”

Adams’ victim managed to return to her home and called her husband who, in turn, called the police.

Officers attended Adams’ home and retrieved the gun, which was later found to be a .77 calibre imitation Beretta 92.

Ms Martin said that it was not loaded and failed after five pellets were shot from it by ballistics experts.

Adams was arrested and later pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm.

At Friday’s hearing it emerged that Adams had first appeared before the courts at the age of 15 and had a history of violent crime, including common assault and robbery.

Mr Dermot Hughes, mitigating, described his client’s offence as a “thoroughly frightening incident,” but added: “This wasn’t an incident where Mr Adams went out to terrorise this young woman.

“This was a very badly, ill-judged practical joke which was spontaneous and fuelled by drink.”

Mr Hughes said that Adams had been going door to door attempting to sell the gun to his neighbours prior to the incident in May this year.

He also stated that his client had acknowledged he had a problem with alcohol.

He said: “When sober he is both engaging and articulate which is why it is all the more depressing that alcohol has had such a grip on him for so many years.”

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