A FARNHAM man who brandished a toy gun at a terrified motorist was told by a judge that he was lucky to escape jail. Craig Roberts, 20, of Blackheath Road, was sentenced to 100 hours' community punishment and ordered to pay £563 in compensation and costs after pleading guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence on October 24 last year. Guildford Crown Court heard last Friday how victim Dudley Pitman was driving round the Six Bells roundabout when another car cut in front of him, immediately followed by a VW Golf in which Roberts was a passenger. Warwick Tatford, prosecuting, said Mr Pitman had to brake sharply and he flashed his lights at the Golf. Both vehicles continued to drive along the Farnborough Road and Mr Pitman saw the defendant was waving his arms around in quite a wild manner. The defendant turned round facing him through the rear window and put his hand out, holding what Mr Pitman thought was a real gun. Mr Tatford said: "The defendant held the rifle as if he was going to fire it in Mr Pitman's direction. He did that for about 10 to 15 seconds. "Understandably Mr Pitman was terrified and in his statement he said he was in absolute disbelief at what was happening." Mr Pitman told the police: "I felt completely numb and I was thinking 'Is he going to fire the gun, is this the end of my life?'" Roberts, still in the Golf, was arrested later that day by armed police and the driver explained the gun belonged to his girlfriend's children. Roberts said he had done it for a laugh and thought the victim would find it amusing. Charlotte O'Connor, defending, said: "He accepts that he acted extremely foolishly. He says he was simply joking around. His actions arose through lack of thought for the consequences. "These proceedings have caused a change in the way the he thinks. He is now much more aware of the impact of his behaviour on others. This isn't a young man who's tried to shirk responsiblity for his stupidity." Recorder Mr David Brock told Roberts: "This case would ordinarily result in an immediate custodial sentence of some months, if not going into years." But the Recorder said in all the circumstances he was prepared to give Roberts a chance and hoped he understood that.
