Man threatened to 'blow boy away'

Scott has convictions for arson, robbery and theft

A man who threatened to "blow away" a teenager as he held a fake gun to his head in a Liverpool flat has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

William Scott, apparently on the run from his Belfast home, also threatened three adults when he burst into the flat in Fairfield.

On Monday, Liverpool Crown Court was told despite the weapon being fake, Scott's victim was so petrified he was unable to speak to police when they arrived.

The court heard Scott had boasted he had killed people before and been involved in armed robberies.

You don't remember what you did, which is lucky because the 14-year-old victim will never forget

Judge Denis Clark

Graham Pickavance, prosecuting, said on 17 September last year police were called to a flat in Prescot Drive, where the 14-year-old victim was with three adult friends.

Scott had burst in and shouted that the boy had been watching where he had been putting his "stash".

Mr Pickavance told the court he was believed to be refering to the many cans of beer that Scott had taken into an adjacent flat, where he was squatting.

'Protection' claim

During police interviews Scott said he had drunk 14 cans of beer and had no recollection of what had happened.

At court on Monday he pleaded guilty to two charges of using a false firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, affray and burglary.

David Mawdsley, defending, said, "He [Scott] is on the run from people in Northern Ireland and carried the imitation gun for his own protection."

Passing sentence, Judge Denis Clark said: "You don't remember what you did, I'm told, which is lucky because the 14-year-old victim will never forget."

The court heard 36-year-old Scott, formerly of the Falls Road area of Belfast, has numerous previous convictions including robbery, arson, burglary and theft.