AN OFFENDER went to the home of a man he had been in an on-and-off relationship with and threatened him while armed with an imitation firearm.

George Sexton told the complainant he was going to kill him, saying words to the effect of “you have ruined my life”.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard the defendant, who had a BB gun which looked like a real handgun, stopped his threatening behaviour and left the property suddenly.

Sexton’s parents had already contacted police as they were concerned about his behaviour on the day of the incident.

The 23-year-old defendant, of Wharfdale Road, Poole, previously pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and possession of cocaine.

Judge Stephen Climie said there was clearly a “problematic relationship” between the defendant and the complainant.

The defendant was told his actions in producing the ‘firearm’ must have been “terrifying” and could justify sending him to prison.

Bournemouth Echo:

However, Judge Climie said he was just persuaded in taking an alternative course having heard and seen the trauma Sexton had caused his parents and the progress he had made since the incident.

Prosecuting, Tim Bradbury said the incident took place at a property in the West Cliff area of Bournemouth on October 16 last year.

The court heard Sexton and the complainant “had been in an on-and-off relationship” for about two years.

Mr Bradbury said the complainant had never known the defendant to be violent “although he had known him to become angry”, adding that he had expressed concerns about his mental health.

The man was at home drinking with two friends at his home when they heard a “loud banging at the door.

“He initially ignored it however the door was in fact insecure and the defendant, who was banging the door, let himself in.

“When he came in and he stepped into the property he was met by one of the complainant’s friends.”

The defendant was shouting and had the ‘firearm’ in his hand.

Mr Bradbury said such was the man’s fears he run upstairs and threw himself out of a first-floor window onto a drive before fleeing the property.

The incident then continued in the property, with the defendant still holding the gun and pointing it at the complainant, who was described as being “terrified” and “cowering” in the kitchen.

However, Sexton suddenly stopped and left. Police officers located him outside Tesco in Seamoor Road in Westbourne in a “distressed state”. The court heard he complied with the instructions of officers and informed them the BB gun was in his waistband.

Police found a small quantity of cocaine when a search was carried out.

Mr Bradbury said the BB gun had “every appearance of a real gun” but it was only capable of firing plastic pellets.

Tom Evans, mitigating, said: “This is a young man who found himself in a perfect storm.”

The defendant’s mother told the court she had been told by her son’s friends that they had concerns about his relationship with the complainant.

She said this period in the offender’s life had caused “a lot of trauma and that needs to be worked through”.

Sexton, who was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD at secondary school, previously worked as a bus driver before the collapse of Yellow Buses and he was currently doing bin collection shifts for BCP Council.

Judge Climie issued a three-year community order, with requirements to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and up to 40 days of rehabilitation activity. He also issued a restraining order for the same period of time.

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