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Andrew Maloney from Lydd jailed for threatening bouncer at Folkestone's Gillespie's with toy gun

A raging drunk who threatened a bar owner and bouncer with a toy gun after being thrown out their venue has been jailed.

Andrew Maloney, 50, aimed the eight inch black imitation pistol at Robert Saunders and Kevin Gillespie, then pulled the trigger three times.

The hammer clicked but no live ammunition was discharged in what Judge Mark Weekes described as a “terrifying incident".

Andrew Maloney was jailed at Canterbury Crown Court. Picture: Kent Police
Andrew Maloney was jailed at Canterbury Crown Court. Picture: Kent Police

He told Maloney, who has 92 offences on 27 occasions to his name, including a live firearm offence, “bluntly to grow up” before jailing him.

Maloney was high on valium and drunk at Gillespie’s in Folkestone harbour when a row erupted with Katie Barnes, a court heard.

When Mr Saunders and Mr Gillespie turfed him out two other men followed and Maloney outside, where he suffered a facial injury.

'Bluntly, at the age of 50, you need to grow up...' - Judge Weekes

CCTV showed Maloney moments later pulled the imitation weapon from a white Audi in Harbour Street, pull his hood up, and marched towards the bar.

Maloney then burst into the venue but Mr Saunders, who believed he was armed with a knife, fought him out the front door with a bar stool.

During the fracas Maloney reached into his trousers and brandished the imitation gun, pointing it at Mr Saunders’ stomach, and pulling the trigger twice.

Gillespies in Folkestone
Gillespies in Folkestone

Prosecutor Desmond Fowler explained Mr Saunders had no way of telling the weapon was fake.

Opiate addict Maloney would then peer at Mr Gillespie through a window, raise the pistol and pull the trigger again.

He fled in a white Audi prompting a police manhunt just after 1.40am on January 26.

However officers traced him to a London hotel the next day and following a police pursuit armed officers brought him under control with a taser.

Mitigating, Peter Fallen argued his client had “seen a red mist” after being attacked outside the bar, triggering his out of character behaviour.

“Bluntly, at the age of 50, you need to grow up..." Judge Mark Weekes

He explained Maloney was also under the effects of alcohol and valium at the time of the incident, adding there were no injuries or property damaged.

Maloney, wearing a prison grey sweatshirt and supported by his partner in the public gallery, could be seen biting his nails during the sentencing hearing.

Judge Weekes said even though he could suspend a prison sentence he wasn’t prepared to do so and imposed a 19-month jail sentence.

“Bluntly, at the age of 50, you need to grow up,” he told Maloney.

Maloney, of The Derings in Lydd, was convicted of two counts of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause violence.

A lesser charge of assault by beating has been placed on file.

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.

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