A drink and drug-addled man who argued with his parents produced a gun and threated to shoot his mum in the chest.
Joshua Neale had consumed nearly a bottle of rum and cocaine when he visited his parent's home in Weston-super-Mare. A court heard trouble flared and Neale produced the weapon, which transpired to be a realistic looking gas-powered BB gun.
Neale, 31, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence on February 26. He appeared at Bristol Crown Court for sentence today. (May 11, 2022)
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The recorder Mr James Bromige handed him a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years. He told Neale: "You threatened your mother with the weapon, telling her you were going to shoot her. You pointed it at her chest."
Neale was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. He was also handed 35 days of rehabilitation.
Sam Jones, prosecuting via video link, said Neale went to his parent's address to watch sport with his dad. Mr Jones said: "The defendant had been drinking rum, almost a whole bottle in the afternoon. At 6.30pm his mother arrived back at the address."
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Mr Jones said an argument ensued, which continued for some four hours in which Neale appeared to be combative and "looking for a fight". He left the room he was in before returning with the gun.
Mr Jones said: "He returned carrying the imitation handgun. He held it by his leg and then raised it and pointed it at his mother's chest. He was also crying."
The court heard Neale threatened to shoot his mum. When his dad intervened it became apparent it was an imitation gun due to its weight, before Neale walked off with the weapon and police were called.
Kenneth Hopper, defending, said Neale's relationship with his mum had been "extremely strained". He said his client had suffered trauma in the past and was liaising with mental health services.
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