A TEENAGER fled into a house and grabbed an air rifle when he was threatened by an older man in Atyeo Close, Malvern, a court was told.

Dale Clark came out with the weapon but it was not loaded and there was only the sound of compressed air when it was discharged, said Jackie Rogers, prosecuting.

Nevertheless, it frightened the man and also shocked a neighbour who was close by. Clark went back into the house and hid the gun in a shed.

Clark, aged 18, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at Worcester Crown Court to possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. He was sent to a young offenders institution for ten months.

Lee Marklew, defending, said Clark had acted through a loss of temper and had not gone looking for trouble. He had been in custody for 136 days and successfully completed various courses. He wanted to move to Birmingham in the near future.

Judge Robert Juckes QC said Clark had acted with great stupidity and frightened anyone who was watching. But he accepted that Clark had not started the confrontation. He had already served the equivalent of a nine-month sentence on remand so he would be released within days.