A BUSKER often seen performing outside Waitrose in Lion & Lamb Yard has been handed a suspended prison sentence plus 200 hours community service after threatening a woman with an air gun.

Nicholas Garner, 51, of no fixed address and known widely as Star, appeared for sentencing at Chichester Crown Court last Friday after pleading guilty to one count of affray.

A second count of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear or violence was discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service prior to the trial. However, an order was agreed to confiscate and destroy the air gun in question.

The offence took place in Worthing on November 15, 2015 when Garner allegedly used a Gamo air gun to threaten Richmal Beck, with whom he was living rent-free at the time.

Friends of Ms Beck later told The Herald that Garner had discharged the weapon, which was fortunately unloaded, in his victim’s face leaving her “traumatised” by the incident.

Garner initially pleaded not guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear or violence on May 6 this year, but pleaded guilty to an affray charge on September 7.

Last Friday, Judge Parker QC sentenced Garner to nine months in jail, suspended for 12 months, plus 200 hours unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £100 and £750 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service. Any breaches will be dealt with in the magistrates court.

‘Star’, as Garner is commonly known, has been a familiar face of the Farnham community for many years, often seen in his bright clothes with his hand-painted guitar, serenading shoppers near the entrance to Waitrose.

He led a successful petition to reverse a ban on busking in Lion & Lamb Yard in 2008 and in an interview with The Herald in 2014 said he frequently travels across the South East to busk.

Garner added in the 2014 interview: “I’m a great believer in karma, I think if you try to do good things, good things will come back to you in the future.”