Gun pointed at man's head over Leeds tower-block cannabis-smoke row
A man who complained about cannabis smoke drifting into his flat had a gun put to his head after confronting his neighbour.
The resident was left “fearing for his life” when Corrin Freeman pulled the pistol on him, Leeds Crown Court heard.
The terrifying incident happened in Marlborough Towers near Leeds city centre.
Prosecutor Louise Pryke said there had been previous issues with cannabis smoke coming through the electrical fittings of the victim’s flat, who lived directly below Freeman.
On March 25 last year, the victim went upstairs to complain and a woman answered the door.
The victim asked if they could open the windows because of the smell, before Freeman appeared and got into an argument.
Freeman became verbally abusive, the court heard, before he went back into the flat and retrieved the Webley Revolver and directed it at the man’s head and had his finger on the trigger.
The victim instinctively tried to duck then grab the gun, with Freeman then trying to hit him with it.
The man pushed Freeman back into the flat and ran back downstairs. Shaken, he rang the police.
The gun was later retrieved and was found to be an fake with no firing pin.
During his police interview, 23-year-old Freeman admitted using it to frighten the man.
He admitted possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause a fear of violence. He has no previous convictions.
Mitigating, Glenn Parsons said: “His behaviour went far beyond what a homeowner is entitled to do to get somebody out of their premises.
“It was an issue that was brought to his door. It was intended to get him to leave the premises.
“He [the victim] was refusing to leave or back down.”
Mr Parsons said it was “short lived” and was “spur of the moment” with no premeditation.
Judge Simon Phillips KC was persuaded not to lock Freeman up, but instead gave him a 14-month sentence, suspended for 24 months.
He also ordered he complete 30 rehabilitation days.