Kelvinbridge man admits pulling fake firearm on strangers in Glasgow city centre
He was embarrassed that he nearly fell off his bike in front of them.
A man pulled an imitation handgun out on terrified strangers because he was embarrassed that he nearly fell off his bike in front of them, a court heard today.
Brad Smith, 21, cycled towards a group of people standing at the Clyde Walkway near the bridge at Glasgow’s Central Station.
He skidded and almost fell then pulled the fake weapon out and yelled “Do you think this is f** funny?”.
The first offender pointed the gun at someone nearby before riding off on his bike.
At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Smith from the city’s Kelvinbridge pleaded guilty to acting in a threatening or abusive manner and showing, swearing and brandishing the imitation hand gun on October 19, last year.
The court heard around 5.15pm a group of people, mostly teenagers, were standing on the pavement on the Clyde Walkway under the bridge at Central Station.
They spotted Smith, a painter and decorator, cycling towards them on his bike.
Procurator fiscal depute Derek Buchanan said: “At that time Smith’s bike skidded and he nearly fell off.
“At that point Smith removed an item which looked like a black hand gun from his clothing and shouted ‘do you think this is f** funny?’ towards witnesses.
“These witnesses were all put in a state of fear and alarm due to this conduct.”
Smith then got off of his bike and pointed the gun at a person a few meters away, then got back on and cycled away towards the Clutha bar.
One of the group then told police at Glasgow Sheriff Court and a description was circulated of Smith.
He was later found and arrested by police around 6.50pm.
Sheriff John McCormick deferred sentence and continued Smith’s bail.
He told him: “Brandishing an imitation hand gun in public at that time in the day is an extremely serious matter, you should be aware of that."