A man who put a gun against a woman’s forehead in a “misjudged and ill-conceived prank” has been jailed for 14 months.
Ross Jackson, 25, claimed the incident was a “practical joke”, but Dundee Sheriff Court heard his stunt left two women “terrified”.
One of them was so scared she was physically sick during the ordeal, Sheriff Alastair Carmichael said.
Fiscal depute Vicki Bell told the court Rebecka Kean and Anna Moir had gone to Jackson’s address in Court Street, having been told there was a party.
When they turned up, Jackson said there was no party and he got into a friend’s car.
When Miss Kean asked for a lift home, Jackson rolled down the window and pulled a black, long-barrelled handgun from the pocket of his jumper.
Ms Bell said: “He then removed it and put the barrel on to Miss Kean’s forehead. She could feel cold metal.
“The accused and the car’s driver began laughing.”
She said the accused then told Miss Kean: “You better get her to f*** off,” pointing the gun at Miss Moir, then back at Miss Kean.
Ms Bell said: “She was terrified and froze. She was crying and saying she couldn’t breathe, and Miss Moir was physically sick.
“They both believed it was a real handgun.”
Jackson pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting the two women on June 10 in Court Street.
Jackson’s solicitor Jim Laverty, said: “This was a prank which was misjudged, ill-conceived and he now appreciates caused significant fear and alarm.
“He concedes that what he saw as a joke wasn’t taken that way and must have been a frightening experience for the two individuals concerned.”
Mr Laverty asked for a supervision order and unpaid community work rather than a custodial sentence.
However, Sheriff Carmichael said Jackson’s previous convictions included one for use of an open razor.
He told Jackson: “You have had the benefit of all kinds of non-custodial disposals and they have failed.
“I see no reason to think another community-based sentence will have any effect.”
The sentence was backdated to June, when Jackson was first remanded.
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