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A respected 56-year-old freemason waved a 'handgun' in the air as he stormed out of his flat to confront neighbours about an outside light that was shining into his bedroom, a court heard yesterday.

There was a violent scuffle and the gun went off, Gloucester Crown Court was told.

The firearm was a BB-type air pistol.

Anthony Rhodes, formerly of Waterside, Tewkesbury, but now of Willow Close, Cheltenham, had denied possessing the firearm with intent to cause fear of violence but was convicted after a trial at Taunton Crown Court on March 14.

The jury found him guilty by a majority verdict of 10-2.

Yesterday Rhodes appeared for sentence at Gloucester and the judge, Recorder Adam Vaitilingam QC ordered him to do 150 hours of unpaid work, placed him on a 12-month community order and also ordered him to pay £1,200 prosecution costs.

The court heard how the defendant was frustrated by a light coming on in the courtyard and shining directly into his flat on October 6 last year.

The judge said: “Your neighbours were enjoying a meal in the courtyard and you came out, according to one witness, like someone possessed.

“You shouted ‘turn this f*****g light off’ and were wielding a handgun.

“There was a scuffle and the gun went off.”



The judge said that the defendant dropped the gun and it was kicked away.



“It is clear that the group of people were terrified of what you did, but I am satisfied that you took the gun in order to shoot out the light," said Recorder Vaitilingam.



“It was not your intention to scare them with the gun but things got out of hand.”



Rhodes told the court: “I have lost my house and my business because of this ordeal but I am now working as an engineer in Gloucester.”



After reading a pre-sentence report the judge imposed a restraining order prohibiting Rhodes from contacting the five individuals involved in the incident for five years.



Rhodes is a member of two masonic lodges in Gloucestershire and at the time of the incident was said to be working in real estate.