A FORMER forces fireman who was found wandering the streets with a black handgun in a chest holster and a pair of scissors in his boot has walked free from court.

Blunsdon man William Handrick had been showing off the Beretta 92F replica air pistol to residents in a hostel, telling them he had it for his own protection.

And they were so worried about what he had been doing and telling them that they called the police who stopped him in the street.

As well as having the 'jazzed up BB gun' he was also found to have a pair of scissors in a sheath on his boot.

But after hearing the 55-year-old had served his country, and not been in trouble before, a judge imposed a community order.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how the police were called to Unity House, in Chippenham, over concerns of a man showing off the gun.

She said two women and a man told how he had produced it and told them it was 'for his own protection and the police knew about it'.

"These people were anxious and they contacted the police with his details," she said

He was stopped in Gladstone Road in Chippenham town centre where he was searched and the two items were found.

"It transpired the handgun was a jazzed up BB gun which did not fall foul of the prohibited weapons laws.

"He also had a number of other firearms related items when his address was searched: instruction manuals for Beretta pellets and gas canisters and the like.

"He said he bought the gun for £180 from a bona fide gun shop in Old Town, Swindon, and had no intention of frightening anyone with them.

"The scissors he said he intended to pick up some cardboard boxes and cut them up to make targets."

Handrick, of Berton Close, Blunsdon, pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article and having an air pistol in a public place.

Neil Roman, defending, pointed out that his client was 55 years old and had never been convicted of anything in the past and was suffering mental health problems.

"He worked as a services fireman for years, giving service to his country," he said.

"In the eight months prior to that day, when he had for the first time got a place at Unity House, he had been homeless and had been used to having things on himself."

He said his behaviour over the past five years had been down to his mental health problems and he had no ill intentions with the items he was found with.

Passing sentence Judge Tim Mousley QC said "I have read very carefully what has been set out in the probation service report and I have come to the conclusion I can sentence you to what had been proposed in that report."

He imposed a 12 month community order with rehabilitation, a metal health requirement and 150 hour of unpaid work.