A Newbridge man has been jailed for 15 months after he smuggled a BB gun into a Blackwood pub and then threatened drinkers with the weapon.
At around 10pm on Friday, October 23, last year, 33-year-old Leighton Frayne went to the Flour Mill Public House, in High Street, Blackwood. In his jacket pocket was a fully-loaded gas-powered ball bearing gun.
Following a verbal argument in the VIP area of the pub, Frayne drew the weapon and pointed it at fellow drinkers, threatening them.
He then left the Flour Mill and went to the nearby Porters pub, where following police reports, a door supervisor searched him and seized the weapon. He was later arrested, charged and remanded into custody.
The gas powered pistol carried by Frayne was tested and was legally defined as a “firearm”.
Frayne was sentenced to 15 months in prison at Cardiff Crown Court on February 12.
DC Cooper, of Gwent Police, said: ” I would like to thank the door staff at the Porters for their prompt action to seize the weapon.
“Firearm offences of any kind are taken very seriously by police and the Courts. Any threatening or intimidating behaviour in possession of a firearm will be dealt with robustly, and offenders will most likely receive a custodial sentence.”
If he was carrying a gas gun then this is not a firearm. Firearms are weapons that use a chemical propellant to shoot a projectile and in Britain require a license to purchase; BB guns do not. Check any dictionary for a definition of ‘firearm.’
The convicted man acted in a foolish manner and no doubt caused alarm but his ‘weapon’ could not have harmed anyone. A catapult, walking stick or glass bottle would have been a far deadlier weapon.
Technically you are correct. I also have an air weapon and I use it with caution. The reporting of a firearm was incendiary (chortle) but this idiot deserved what he got? The clue is in the name really “FIREarm”. No explosion, no fire just a release of gas to force a projectile.
Correct, and not a leathal weapon. Any reasonably competent barrister would fancy his or her chances of an appeal.
Correct on the definition, but wrong on the law. The law prevents real imitation firearms without a licence. If this BB gun was painted bright pink or was clear, it would be legal. If it was painted black to look like a real gun it is illegal to own and carry without a licence stating you use it for the right purpose (e.g. airsoft).
Actually imitation firearms in the form of gas guns are freely available, I have just looked up some online sites. The ones that come under the firearms laws are ‘self contained’ which means that the projectile and gas are together as a piece. When a gas cylinder, usually carbon dioxide, is used to propel a separate BB or lead pellet these laws do not apply.
It does not just extend to gas powered weapons. the restrictions extend to the small, non-lethal, spring-powered BB guns kids used to be able to freely buy in shops. If it looks real, it is illegal to possess.
Granted, they are easy to buy. Internet shops freely sell them because it is not illegal to sell them. It is only illegal to use them without the right paperwork, or good reason (e.g. film studios).