Driver with toy gun at the wheel escapes with a fine

Aug 26 2008 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

BRANDISHING a toy gun at motorists near Perth landed a North East man a £500 fine at the sheriff court.

David Nellis flashed the imitation firearm from the window of his vehicle at passing drivers on the A9 on August 7.

Perth Sheriff Court heard that an armed response vehicle was deployed as a result of his actions.

Defence agent Rosemary Scott said her client had intended to show the gun “as a joke” while travelling in a people carrier stuffed with toys.

“He had been drinking and accepts he was playing about with the toy gun but he has no recollection of pointing it at cars,” said Ms Scott.

“It never crossed his mind that anyone would have thought it was anything other than a toy. He had no intention of causing alarm.”

Nellis (25), of Forres, admitted that between the Inveralmond and Broxden roundabouts he conducted himself in a disorderly manner by pointing a toy gun at other motorists, placing them in a state of fear and committing a breach of the peace.

Sheriff Valerie Johnston said: “Nowadays this is a very dangerous thing to do.”