A
gunman, who pointed his imitation firearm at two young female police
officers during a boozy domestic row with his wife, has been
sentenced to four years in prison.
Michael
Murphy Martin, 27, of Hollickwood Avenue, North Finchley, pleaded
guilty at Wood Green Crown Court to possession of an imitation
firearm in a public place, with intent to cause fear of violence.
The
two female officers from Enfield Borough were on patrol in Bowes
Road, Friern Barnet on Sunday December 22, last year at approximately
6.00pm.
They
were approached by a member of the public, who informed them two men
around the corner were assaulting a female outside a church.
One
of the officers made her way to the nearby Our Lady of Lourdes Church
and saw three individuals, who were Michael Martin, his wife and a
male friend.
The
officer asked whether everything was OK and saw Martin raise his
right hand in which he was carrying a handgun.
The
officer, believing the gun to be real, pulled Martin’s wife away to
safety and activated her emergency assistance button.
At
this point the other officer arrived and not being aware of the
firearm, began speaking to the men, both of whom drinking.
The
officer then saw that Martin had a gun in his hand.
When
asked whether he was okay he became aggressive and pointed it
directly at the officer’s face whilst shouting aggressively.
The
officer requested immediate assistance and was quickly joined by
other police officers in the vicinity.
Michael
Martin was subsequently arrested for possession of an imitation
firearm in a public place and taken to Colindale Police station.
Detective
Constable Jon Nagle of Trident North Reactive said: “This was a
terrifying ordeal for two young PCs who should be safe to go about
their role protecting the public without fear of being attacked by
the people they serve.
“I
am pleased that Martin has been put behind bars so that he will not
be able to cause alarm and distress to the public for a significant
period of time.”
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