A BAILIFF fled from a house after the occupier threatened him with a firearm, a court heard.
Daniel Capes was so angry at bailiff Neil Higham turning up at his home that he went upstairs and grabbed the unloaded air rifle, leaving the other man fearing for his life.
Armed police were called in after the terrified bailiff hastily fled.
Capes, 27, admitted possessing an imitation firearm at his home in Frankland Place, Cleethorpes, on May 23.
Stephen Welch, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that Mr Higham went to the home of Capes to speak about recovering outstanding council tax.
He wanted to list valuable items at the property and to discuss payments for the outstanding debt. He spoke to Capes on the telephone but, when discussions turned to the car on the driveway, Capes became agitated and began shouting down the phone.
He arrived five minutes later and angrily ran at the bailiff. Capes and his partner started shouting and the bailiff felt threatened.
Capes warned him: "Right then, I am going to get my rifle."
He ran upstairs and Mr Higham decided to leave.
He reached his vehicle and heard Capes shouting.
Mr Higham turned around to see Capes standing at the door with his rifle.
The bailiff got in his car "as he feared for the consequences" and did not know whether Capes was going to use the weapon.
He called the police and armed officers went to the house.
Officers searched the home and found a brown and black-coloured air rifle. It was not loaded.
Capes told police he acted out of fear for his own safety but admitted he behaved "stupidly on the spur of the moment" but that he never had any intention of using the rifle.
Nigel Sloane, mitigating, said it was a frightening experience for Mr Higham.
Capes had no previous convictions and pleaded guilty.
Judge Peter Clark said Capes should have known better than to threaten a man "who was just doing his job".
But he added: "I am most impressed by what I have read about you from your friends and family and those who you work with."
Capes was given a 36-week suspended prison sentence, 120 hours' unpaid work and must pay a £100 victims' surcharge.
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