Man pointed imitation firearm at officer

A man who pointed an imitation firearm at a police officer has been sentenced.

Kristian Hellwing, 47, called officers to a property in Cambridge in May 2021 regarding a domestic incident. Upon arrival the officers noticed the firearm beside Hellwing and spoke to him about it.

He became agitated and grabbed the gun before tilting it towards an officer, who swiftly took it from him and arrested him.

The gun was later discovered to be a very convincing imitation.

Hellwing, of no fixed abode, claimed he had not wanted to scare officers and had picked up the gun so he would be arrested.

He was sentenced to 10 months suspended for 18 months at Peterborough Crown Court on Monday (15 April)

Ryan Parker said: “This was a very troubling incident for the officers involved and I want to praise the officer who acted so bravely and swiftly to remove the gun from Hellwing.

“It was found to be a very convincing imitation but officers did not know that at the time.

“We take the carrying of weapons of any kind very seriously and will do all we can to bring offenders to justice.”