A POLICE Armed Response Unit was called in when a gardener threatened to shoot his estranged wife, a court was told.
Burnley Magistrates heard how Stephen Barton, 45, had access to firearms and his words were "potentially not just an idle threat."
Barton, of Northfield Road, Accrington, admitted breaching the peace and was bound over in the sum of £250 for 12 months.
David Hartley, prosecuting, told the court the defendant's wife had been living at a separate address with her best friend.
He said Barton believed she was having an affair with another man.
On April 16, the brother of Barton's wife went to see the defendant and Barton suggested he was going to shoot his wife.
The prosecutor said "that had a certain effect," on Mrs Barton's brother, as he knew Barton had access to firearms.
Barton's words were "potentially not just an idle threat" and the Armed Response Unit went to see the defendant. They removed certain firearms from him.
Mr Hartley told the court: "It is not acceptable behaviour to threaten to shoot a wife or ex-partner especially if a person has access to firearms."
Mark Irlam, defending, said Barton had believed his wife had been having an affair with his friend. He had suggested he went to see her but accepted he had some drink before he went.
He was never going to carry out his threat, said Mr Irlam
Barton had never been in trouble with the police. It was the first time he had been locked up in a cell and the first time he had been before a court. He had spent 12 hours in custody and that had been a salutary lesson to him.
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