Man jailed for pointing gun at fire crew tackling blaze at his home

A RINGWOOD man who pointed a gun at firefighters as they put out a blaze in his garden has been jailed for two years.

Andrew Lambert (40), threatened to shoot from the first floor window of his Winston Way home as a crew dealt with a bonfire, Bournemouth Crown Court heard.

After the incident, at 10pm on July 21st last year, it was discovered the firearm was an Airsoft BB rifle with a scope – which Lambert had painted black to make it look like a real gun.

Lambert appeared before the court having already pleaded guilty to a charge of affray at an earlier hearing.

He was sent down for 18 months for the imitation firearm offence, with another six months jail added on top because the judge activated a previously imposed suspended sentence.

Speaking after the sentencing DC Chris Orr of Hampshire Police said: “This was a frightening experience for the firefighters involved and we are delighted that the man responsible has been brought to justice.

“This should send a warning to anyone else tempted to behave in this irresponsible and threatening manner.”

Hampshire’ assistant chief fire officer, Stew Adamson, said: “It is completely unacceptable for emergency service workers to have to worry about acts such as these while they are trying to help the public.

“Not only can they obstruct or delay crews from carrying out what can often be life-saving work, there can also be lasting impacts on the staff who are subjected to this type of disgraceful behaviour.

“We are greatly encouraged by the new legislation that provides greater powers to deal with such assaults on blue-light workers and I would like to thank our colleagues from Hampshire Constabulary for their work in bringing this particular criminal to justice.”