Stretford man makes gun threat, court hears (From Messenger Newspapers)

Stretford man makes gun threat, court hears

12:17pm Thursday 24th January 2013 in News

A STRETFORD man threatened to gun down a taxi driver and his passengers after an all-day drinking binge.

But 20-year-old Aidan Kavanagh came off second best when he tangled with one of the group, a Manchester court heard.

During a fight outside a restaurant in the city centre he was knocked unconscious and on coming round was arrested.

Out-of-work Kavanagh, of Cherry Tree Walk, Stretford, escaped an immediate prison sentence after admitting using threatening and abusive behaviour on December 1.

Magistrates heard how he told the taxi driver he had a gun and threatened to shoot him.

Afterwards Kavanagh turned his attention to the group and said “I am gonna put a bullet in you.”

Prosecutor Sarah Roberts said a fight broke out with one of the men who was head butted. But he went on to get the better of Kavanagh and left him lying unconscious in the street.

The man was given a caution after telling the police he believed that Kavanagh had a gun down his pants.

Kavanagh was given six weeks jail suspended for a year, 60 hours unpaid work, and made to pay £85 costs and £80 victim surcharge.

The magistrates told him “What you did crosses the custody line – it was done in an alcoholic daze.

“You threatened a man (taxi-driver) who was only doing his job but we have decided not to jail you straight away.”

James McDermott, defending, said Kavanagh accepted he caused the trouble after being shown CCTV footage.

“But he expressed surprise on being told that he said he was carrying a gun”, added Mr McDermott.