Man jailed for threat to kill with fake gun

AN enraged gunman threatened to shoot two police officers when they tried to arrest him at his Oldham home.

High on drink and drugs, 30-year old Brett Minnice pointed a pistol at them and screamed he was going to kill them.

The incident happened only two months after policewomen Fiona Bone and Nichola Hughes were murdered in Hattersley, Tamesider.

Manchester Crown Court was told PC Paul Darlington - one of the two officers involved - said later: “In 20 years in the police I have never encountered an incident in which I believed I was going to die.”

The court was told that the gun Minnice was holding was a replica Beretta pistol — though the officers couldn’t know this.

Jailing Minnice for two years, Judge Bernard Lever said: “This is so serious that you and everybody else must know what follows in such cases.”

The drama happened on February 13 in Minnice’s Ash Square, Oldham, home. A furious row had taken place with his ex-partner Gemma Hilton at the home they had shared in Beresford Street.

Minnice was subject to a court order banning him from contact with her, but had gone to pick up their two children from school and taken them home.

After being allowed into the house, he flew into a rage and accused his wife of seeing other men and was told to leave. He did, but shortly afterwards hurled a brick through a window before running off.

Minnice returned to Ash Square and told his mother what had gone on. Police were already on the way and on arrival were told by his mother that he had a gun. Minnice appeared and screamed at them to back off, pointing the weapon at PC Darlington.

The officers backed away, shouting to him to put the gun down. Minutes later he was persuaded by his brother to hand the pistol over.

Timothy Hopley defending, said Minnice had recently been diagnosed with Huntington’s disease and had seen his own father totally debilitated by the condition. His drink and drug taking had become worse.

“He reached the point where he thought the only way out was to be incarcerated. This incident happened when he was utterly bereft of any hope for the future.

“He recognises the impact his behaviour had, and has expressed sincere remorse.”

Minnice pleaded guilty to damaging property, breaching a restraining order and possession of an imitation firearm.