'Idiot with toy' sparked school shooting fears

A man who sparked fears of a possible mass shooting when he was seen near a school with an imitation gun was "just an idiot" looking at his new toy, a court has heard.

Alexander Adams, 31, was spotted inspecting and loading a handgun near a school and university buildings in Newcastle in October 2022, the city's crown court heard.

Several witnesses feared he was planning to carry out an attack but police quickly discovered the feared weapon was a BB gun.

Adams admitted possessing an imitation firearm in a public place and was jailed for eight months suspended for two years.

A member of the public saw Adams apparently loading a handgun in an underpass near the Royal Grammar School and Newcastle University buildings at about 15:00 GMT on 10 October 2022, prosecutors said.

Other people also saw him and there were fears he may be planning to attack one of the nearby buildings, the court heard.

Police rushed to the scene and found he had a BB gun and a box of ammunition and gas cannisters, with Adams telling officers he had bought the bundle just 15 minutes before, the court heard.

In a statement read to the court, the man who first spotted Adams and then stayed around to watch him said he was "so concerned" as he did not know what Adams was planning.

The court heard Adams had 26 convictions for 34 offences, including possessing an imitation firearm in 2019 for which he received a suspended sentence.

In mitigation, Brian Marks said: "This man is just an idiot.

"He was looking at his new toy, not to harm or frighten anyone but out of excitement of having purchased it."

Mr Marks said Adams had had no "sinister" intentions and lacked awareness of how his actions may have appeared to others.

He said Adams was "terribly ashamed" and "horrified" at the suggestion he may have been planning an attack.

Judge Carolyn Scott said the gun looked "remarkably like a real firearm" and she could "absolutely understand" the fear felt by those who saw Adams handling it.

She commended the member of the public who, fearing for children in the nearby school, stayed at the scene to observe Adams until the police arrived.

"It must have been truly terrifying for him," Judge Scott said.

Adams, of Moor Road South in Gosforth, must also complete 100 hours unpaid work, attend sessions with the probation service and pay £200 court costs.

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