Your World of Legal Intelligence
 United Kingdom | +44 (0) 20 7284 8080

Dozy boyfriend fell asleep in North Shields play area with BB gun after row with girlfriend; Mark Casson sparked concern among the public when he was seen sleeping in the park on West Percy Road with a BB hand gun.

Document Cited in Related
Vincent

Byline: Sara Nichol

A snoozing boyfriend was found with an imitation firearm after he fell asleep in a children's play area.

Police were called to the park at West Percy Road, inNorth Shields, on September 17 after concerned members of the public reported seeing a man with a gun.

When officers arrived, they found Mark Casson and asked him if he was carrying a weapon, a court heard.

The 39-year-old immediately claimed it was a BB handgun and a black-handled 'firearm' was found in the grass nearby.

Subsequent examinations revealed it was in fact an unloaded BB gun but Casson was arrested and charged with possession of an imitation firearm.

He pleaded guilty to that offence and one of possessing amphetamine during a hearing at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court this week.

Prosecutor Clare Irving said: "Police were notified by the public that there was a male in the playing fields with a weapon.

"So, they go at around 10.15am to West Percy Road and the defendant is asked if he has weapons.

"He says that it's just a BB gun and by the defendant is a black-handled gun concealed by the grass. That's examined an it's an imitation firearm. The defendant is cautioned and arrested."

Check out this haul of guns handed in as part of Northumbria Police weapon amnesty

As well as being found with the BB gun, Casson also had a small quantity of amphetamine.

Casson, of Vicarage Street, North Shields, told officers he used...

To continue reading

Request your trial
COPYRIGHT MGN Ltd.

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT