Blidworth man sparked stand-off with police after terrifying mum and young kids with 'shotgun'

Victor Staples jumped out in front of their BMW on Ricket Lane, between Blidworth and Ravenshead, on August 12 last year, said prosecutor Jon Fountain.

Staples was clutching a bottle of Stella and complained he could have been run over but when the driver replied she had only been travelling at 5mph, he kicked her offside passenger door and threw beer over the car.

When the woman stopped further down the road to report the incident to police, her daughters, aged eight and 12, warned her that Staples was approaching with a gun.

"She could see him walking towards the car, aiming what she thought was a shotgun," Mr Fountain said.

"She was fearful for their lives and drove off at speed, with her daughters screaming."

While she contacted police, Staples stopped another car 15ft in front of him by aiming the weapon. The passenger described himself as ‘absolutely terrified’ but the driver recognised Staples.

Armed police arrived and ordered him to put the gun down but he did not comply at first.

The driver pulled his car forward and retrieved Staples’ gun in a bid to help the police, Mr Fountain said, but this only ‘escalated the situation’.

"It turned out to be an air rifle with a barrel that had been modified to make the weapon far more frightening," Mr Fountain said, adding that it was uncocked and unloaded.

The court heard Staples has 12 previous convictions for 27 offences, the majority committed since 2014 and consisting of criminal damage, threats and assaults.

He was last jailed in September 2019.

Raglan Ashton, mitigating, said: “He is clearly someone who can live a law-abiding life. He is a very committed father and grandfather and worked for 20 years in the Air Force.

"He now knows the significance of taking his medication. He is bi-polar. Inevitably he ends up in a dark place.”

Staples, 62, of Ricket Lane, Blidworth, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Judge Shaun Smith QC sentenced him to 13 months in prison.

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