A woman was left terrified after seeing a neighbour's gun when she intervened in a domestic dispute.
The Good Samaritan was woken from her sleep by the sound of shouting and screaming outside and looked out to see it was next door neighbour Jack Reid and his partner.
A court heard he "appeared to be pushing and pulling the woman about" so the woman, 53, opened her window and shouted: "Leave her alone you bully".
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Neil Pallister, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court she then went outside and could see the other woman was crying and distressed.
During the incident on Station Road North, Wallsend, in September 2019, the woman again told Reid to leave his partner alone and began picking up bags which had fallen to the floor and gave them to him.
Mr Pallister said: "The defendant then went in to his house and a short time later came out holding what the complainant described as a handgun and pointed it at her and said, in an aggressive manner 'watch what f****** happens'.
"She ran into her house, scared, and called the police."
Officers arrived a few minutes later to arrest Reid and found the gun in a black case on a shelf in the front bedroom.
It had the appearance of a Colt M1911 pistol but turned out to be an air weapon.
The victim, who had only ever spoken to Reid once before and who had no previous issues with him, said in a statement read to the court: "This incident left me feeling terrified and I no longer feel safe in my address.
"No one should be threatened with a gun.
"Due to this, my anxiety levels dramatically increased."
Reid, 25, now of Garcia Drive, Ashington, Northumberland, denied pointing it when interviewed by police and when sentencing him, a judge said he had not pointed or brandished it.
He pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm and was sentenced to 10 months suspended for 12 months with 80 hours unpaid work and a rehabilitation requirement.
Judge Edward Bindloss said: "You became angry, told her to f*** off, went in the house, put an imitation firearm into the waistband of your trousers and came out.
"That was plainly intended to cause her fear.
"The firearm, thankfully, was not loaded but it did have the appearance of a Colt pistol. It was not brandished or pointed."
Shaun Routledge, defending, said Reid has been promoted at work and his now in a management position and has moved away from the area.
He added: "He's looking to the future and won't be back in front of a court again."
The court heard the offence was out of character, he is remorseful and he has taken steps to make changes in his life.
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