An airsoft enthusiast was fined £80 after armed police surrounded him following an anonymous 999 call reporting a man with a firearm in Tamworth.
Connor Allsopp, 29, of Furrow Drive, Tamworth, pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm in a public place during a hearing at Dudley Magistrates' Court on September 24.
The court heard that on August 15, Allsopp dropped a 'small black revolver' as he was confronted by officers in Darnbrook, Tamworth. The imitation firearm was later identified as a starter pistol.
Police response to anonymous call
John Hopkins, prosecuting, said officers received a call from an unknown member of the public who believed they had seen a man with a firearm. The caller provided a description of the male and the vehicle they had left in.
Mr Hopkins said officers were able to identify the vehicle and, as it stopped, Allsopp got out via the passenger side and 'attempted to get off on foot'. However, he 'tripped over' and a 'small black revolver fell from him as he fell to the floor'.
Defence explains the incident
Allsopp's legal representative said her client was 'into play combat, airsoft and gun games' and had taken the starter pistol to a local park to 'see how loud it was and what it does'.
The court was told Allsopp had gone there as it was a 'wide, open space, with nobody around' and he 'couldn't try it in the one-bedroom flat he was living in at the time'.
She claimed the call to police had been 'malicious', and said Allsopp was 'startled' when armed officers had surrounded the car and had 'fell out of the vehicle', as had the starter pistol.
Magistrate's warning and sentence
Magistrate Berinder Singh Bassral told Allsopp: "Carrying a weapon in public is a very serious offence. It's not something you should think is quite normal. You should have nothing like that on your person outside."
Allsopp, who is in receipt of benefits and is a full-time carer for his mother, was fined £80 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £32 and £85 court costs.
