Armed police evacuated Rodley Barge pub and Leeds Liverpool canal banks when drunk man twirled gun 'like John Wayne' on board his barge

Armed police evacuated canal banks and the Rodley Barge pub after Clifford Munday took out the fake weapon following a dispute with the landlord.

Munday, 51, was given a suspended prison sentence over the incident on November 17 last year.

Leeds Crown Court heard Munday owned a barge at the time and moored the vessel in a private area near to the pub before going into the premises.

Carmel Pearson, prosecuting, said Munday was known to the landlord but his mother was looking after the pub at the time and did not know the defendant.

The woman became concerned when Munday entered a private area of the pub and went into the kitchen to ask for food.

She asked him to leave and to move his barge from where it was moored.

Munday returned to his barge and was seen holding a black handgun.

Miss Pearson said Munday could be seen "twirling" the weapon but was not pointing it at anyone.

Police were contacted and armed officers cleared the pub and the canal banks for over an hour.

CCTV footage showed officers approaching the barge and asking Munday to put down the weapon.

It was discovered to be a gas-powered ball bearing gun which was not in working order.

The prosecutor said: "He was upset and didn't know why the police were there.

"He appeared to be in drink."

When interviewed about the incident Munday said he had been doing "John Wayne stuff" with the gun but had not pointed it at anyone and was sorry for scaring people.

Munday said he kept the gun in case he needed to frighten away anyone who tried to break into his barge.

Munday, now of Town Street, Stanningley, pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Robin Freize, mitigating, said Munday had been living on the barge with his pet cat and dog at the time of the incident.

He said Munday had been on strong pain killers for a shoulder injury and they caused a bad reaction when he drank alcohol.

Mr Freize said his client was no longer living on the barge and had moved into his friend's house.

Munday was given an 18-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Judge Simon Batiste said: "This was a serious offence because even though the weapon was not a real firearm, the fear that people have when someone is waving it around is great."