Man jailed after threatening to '˜pistol whip' man and punching police officer

Dean Sanders, 30, of no fixed address, appeared at Preston Crown Court on Thursday, 9 March having previously pleading guilty to possession of an imitation firearm, possession of an offensive weapon, theft from a dwelling and assault of a police officer.

The court heard that on 14 January at around 10pm, Sanders approached an address on Mendip Road. The occupant – a 28-year-old woman - told him he was at the wrong address and, as she closed the door, Sanders produced an imitation handgun.

He made off from the scene and at around 10.30pm contacted an acquaintance asking to be picked up from a petrol station on Wigan Road.

Once in the car Sanders reproduced the imitation gun and threatened to ‘pistol whip’ the 38-year-old driver, whose wife and two-year-old daughter were also present.

He was driven to a takeaway business on Royal Avenue, where he went behind the counter and asked the owner for a lift to a different address. After being refused he pointed the imitation handgun at him.

The weapon was knocked from his hand, at which point he punched the 39-year-old man to the face before being restrained.

He then left the business and attended the home address of the man who had driven him to the takeaway, where several children were present. He stole a pair of Nike trainers from the house, on Meadowcroft Road, before making off.

He returned to the address at around 1am on 15 January, where he was arrested. During the arrest he punched an officer to the back of the head. A knife was also found in the back pocket of his trousers.

DC Dominic Webster, of Preston Police, said: “Dean Sanders visited several addresses on the night of January 14th and 15th in possession of an incredibly realistic-looking fake handgun and a knife. He threatened several people with the imitation firearm, apparently giving no thought to the fear he was causing.

“I am satisfied that the courts have taken this seriously and have handed Sanders a lengthy term behind bars.”