Gunman threatened to shoot police

The two officers had radioed for an armed response unit

An off-duty policeman grabbed a gun from a man who was threatening to shoot two police officers in West Lothian.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that young children were playing nearby as David Moran, 22, pointed a handgun at two constables in a car on 12 July.

Sgt John Forsyth sneaked up behind Moran and grabbed the airgun from him.

Moran, from Seafield, near Bathgate, pleaded guilty to assaulting the officers by threatening to shoot them. He will be sentenced next month.

Heroin addict Moran, who had taken methadone, valium and tonic wine, picked up the handgun after an argument with his girlfriend and ran out into the street.

The accused came right up to the windscreen and started battering the bonnet and the windscreen with the butt of the gun Adrian Cottam Advocate depute

The officers, Craig Sorbie and Andrew Rooney, had radioed for the armed response unit but it had not yet arrived.

Advocate depute Adrian Cottam, prosecuting, said there were five or six young children playing in the street when the officers arrived in a police car.

"The accused came right up to the windscreen and started battering the bonnet and the windscreen with the butt of the gun," said Mr Cottam.

"At this point an off-duty police officer, Sgt Forsyth, crept up behind the accused and grabbed his gun arm."

Later examined

He said it was likely Sgt Forsyth would be formally commended for his courage.

Mr Cottam said Moran would probably have been shot by armed officers if Sgt Forsyth had not intervened before they arrived.

When the gun was later examined it was found to be an air weapon.

Moran pleaded guilty to pointing a firearm at the officers and threatening to shoot them.

He also admitted possessing a firearm and placing others in a state of fear and alarm by brandishing the weapon.