Drunk threatened to blow man's head off after making 'imitation shotgun' out of a piece of wood wrapped in his shirt during row in Leeds street

A man who wrapped a piece of wood in his shirt to make it look like a shotgun during a drunken argument in a street in Leeds has been sent to prison.
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David Fildes was locked up for 14 months after pleading guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Leeds Crown Court heard Fildes committed the offence after spending the day drinking with a female relative at her home in Leeds on March 28, 2018.

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Phillip Standfast, prosecuting, said an argument broke out when the relative's husband objected to Fildes encouraging the woman to get drunk.

Chelwood Place, MoortownChelwood Place, Moortown
Chelwood Place, Moortown

Mr Standfast said Fildes continued to row with the man and made a phone call in which he threatened to blow his head off.

Fildes left in his car but returned to the property on Chelwood Place, Moortown, a short time later.

The prosecutor said Fildes returned with a piece of wood wrapped in clothing.

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He said Fildes held the 'weapon' as if he was holding the barrel of a gun with one hand and with his other hand on the trigger.

He made further threats before leaving.

The incident was captured on a CCTV camera at the property.

Police were contacted and Fildes admitted in interview that he had been holding a piece of wood wrapped in his shirt.

Mr Standfast said: "He admitted making threats but denied that he said he would blow someone's head off."

Fildes failed to attend court for an earlier hearing and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

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He appeared in court for the sentencing hearing via a video link from HMP Leeds.

Fildes, now of Enderby Road, Whetstone, Leicestershire, has previous convictions for dishonesty offences and breaching court orders

Michael Walsh, mitigating, said: "This wasn't the most sophisticated offence that the court will have encountered. The intention was to cause fear.

"It was a foolish act on the defendant's part."

Mr Walsh said Fildes failed to attend court on the previous occasion as he had moved to live with his mother in Leicestershire and did not receive court papers.

Mr Walsh added: "He should have been more organised."

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Judge Neil Clark said: "This is a very serious case. Anybody who makes a threat about having a gun can cause great fear to those who are confronted.

"It can have a long-lasting psychological impact on people and has a huge capacity to escalate into something far more serious."