Armed police unit swoop on 'gunman'

Brian Hossack • Published 27 Jun 2009 14:00

AN armed police response unit was scrambled to a Port Glasgow pub after a man was spotted waving a toy gun in the street outside.

Greenock Sheriff Court heard Derek Davidson, 27, was spotted by CCTV operators carrying the imitation firearm as he stood outside Monty"s Bar in Bay Street.

After fining him £200, Sheriff John Herald, right, warned Davidson he had been lucky not to have been gunned down by police who had arrived on the scene.

He said: 'In some ways you were very lucky, as anyone who stands in a Port Glasgow street holding what appears to be a gun is in grave danger of being shot first with questions asked later.

'I would have banned you from the pub but that has been closed down since this incident took place. A good deal of police resources were put into dealing with the situation that arose and the fine imposed should reflect that.'

Defence solicitor Alisdair Hendry explained that Davidson only had the weapon after taking it from another patron earlier that evening.

He added: 'A woman in the pub had it and he took it from her as she was making a nuisance of herself with it.

'He was seen outside the pub holding it just after closing time by CCTV operators monitoring the area and was holding it rather than brandishing it in any threatening manner.

'In fact he put it on a ledge of the pub window while he stood and spoke to people and had no idea that an armed response unit was at that point on its way.'

During his appearance in the dock on Wednesday, Davidson, of Parkhill Avenue, Port Glasgow, admitted committing a breach of the peace and acting in a disorderly manner by being in possession of a toy firearm outside Monty"s Bar on 28 December last year.

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 27 Jun 09

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