Last updated at 15:51, Sunday, 17 February 2013

A MAN who pressed the barrel of an imitation gun against his friend’s head and said “I am going to kill you” has been jailed.

The sentencing hearing for Kevin Langridge, 57, was yesterday told how his victim Mark Thompson was stricken with nightmares after the incident at Port Haverigg Holiday Village.

Preston Crown Court heard the terrifying incident unfolded after Langridge, who lived in a caravan at the site, drunkenly swore at Mr Thompson and four other people.

The court heard Langridge had been in a relationship with Linda Bicknall for three years, but it ended a year before the incident.

Mr Roger Baldwin, defending, said Langridge’s drinking had become “out of control” after a number of family and friends died. On December 29, Miss Bicknall was with Mr Thompson and Langridge’s sister Patricia Attwood at a caravan in the park belonging to Barry Evans.

Langridge, who had been drinking heavily, came to the caravan at about 1.45pm. He shook hands with the men and went to give Miss Bicknall a kiss, which she refused.

Langridge then shouted abuse and went and got a Skif A3000 ballbearing gun, which was kept at the site.

He went back to Mr Evans’ caravan where he found Mr Thompson.

Judge Jacqueline Beech told Langridge: “The next thing he knew, you were holding a gun to the back of his head. You said to Mr Thompson: ‘I am going to kill you.’”

Mr Thompson tried to push Langridge’s hand away but he put the gun to his head again.“At that stage he heard a click and thought you had cocked the gun,” the judge said.

“He thought at that stage it was the end for him.”

Langridge later told police he had no reason to pick on Mr Thompson but he had been the closest person to him when he went into the caravan.

Mr Thompson had to see a doctor afterwards because he had been suffering from nightmares.

Miss Bicknall, who had been in the final stages of applying to become a foster mother, had been told she could not complete the process due to the danger Langridge presented.

Langridge, who admitted possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and making threats to kill, was sentenced to 20 months in prison. He was made the subject of a restraining order barring him from contacting Miss Bicknall, going to Mr Evans’ caravan or entering the holiday park.

First published at 15:10, Sunday, 17 February 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk