Feb 06 – Man In Court - £4 Plastic Gun Reportedly Caused Panic On Friday
A 24-year-old man who was arrested after allegedly waving a £4 toy gun that caused a “huge panic” in the Varyl Begg Estate area on Friday, appeared before the Magistrates’ Court this morning.
Lewis Quinn pleaded not guilty to one charge of causing fear or provocation of violence.
Prosecutor Carl Ramagge said Quinn allegedly bought the toy gun in Pound Paradise in Irish Town and was spotted on CCTV footage making his way to Varyl Begg Estate.
It was around 3pm when Quinn was said to have come across a group of four men and asked them for a cigarette, when he allegedly unzipped his top and revealed the toy gun, adding that it was worth £5,000 and he was carrying 3,000 rounds of ammunition.
The youngsters ran away and Quinn allegedly ran after them holding the gun, before they came across an off-duty police officer who contacted the station to report a concealed gun. Armed officers were deployed and the area was shut down to passers by.
A search warrant was conducted at the defendant’s home in Mid Harbour Estate and the toy gun was recovered and the defendant was arrested.
Mr Ramagge said the incident caused “huge panic” to the community and armed officers had to be deployed, and urged the Magistrate to remand the defendant in custody.
Quinn’s lawyer Patrick Canessa said his client bought the toy gun for his 8-year-old brother and was refused a carrier bag so he ripped off the cardboard packaging and placed it in his top. Mr Canessa said his client and the youngsters had a cocky exchange of words, but no threats were made and that it was just a toy that children in Gibraltar play with.
Mr Canessa said the reaction to a young man carrying a toy gun was not a reason to refuse bail.
Stipendiary Magistrate Charles Pitto said this was a serious matter – he said that remanding the defendant in custody was an appropriate step.
The case has been adjourned until Tuesday 14th February.
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