Toy gun man cleared

Armed police arrested Stewart Elve

A man from County Durham who was arrested by an armed police unit after playing with a toy cap gun has walked free from court.

A jury at Teesside Crown Court took only 10 minutes to clear Stewart Elve, 24, of a terror charge.

He was arrested last October, after a woman rang police claiming he had pointed a gun at her and shouted "Bang, bang, you're dead".

Mr Elve said he had never seen the woman, Helen Finch.

My little brother has still got to go and collect the toy gun

Stewart Elve

The gun turned out to be a plastic cap pistol worth £9.99.

Mr Stewart told BBC News Online: "I was playing with my brother's toy gun.

"On my way home I was walking through the park and I ended up with armed police around me."

"I have lost my job and my pregnant girlfriend as a result of this case.

'Going crazy'

"I lost my temper big time, and my doctor thought I was going crazy."

Mr Elve, who lives in Darlington, was charged under the 1968 Firearms Act with possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause Ms Finch to fear she would be shot.

After he was found not guilty he said: "Maybe now I can get my life back.

New job

"I have a new job, and my little brother has still got to go and collect the toy gun. It is a sham."

Judge Leslie Spittle told the jury that there could be no criticism of the police response to the 999 call.