A MAN pulled a BB gun on a woman and demanded £10 cash during a robbery in a pub car park during the early hours of the morning.
Billy O’Brien’s victim was left “terrified and horrified” after the 20-year-old pointed a black gun to her chest and told her to give him money.
O’Brien had arranged to meet the woman at around 2am at Millers Pond Pub, on Middle Road, Sholing, to sell her some cannabis.
But instead, Southampton Crown Court heard O’Brien left with ten pounds before his victim drove off, “scared of what might happen next”.
Prosecutor Daniel Sawyer told the court O’Brien and another male were seen close to the bushes in the car park as the victim left her car.
Both had their face covered and O’Brien, who sobbed continuously throughout the hearing, was known to the victim, Mr Sawyer said.
He added: “After she approached them, O’Brien pulled out the gun and pointed it straight at her body.
“She held out her hand with the money in it to buy the cannabis but O’Brien said ‘give me your money’.
“She gave him the £10 and he took the money and then walked away.”
In a victim impact statement read to the court, the victim said: “This incident has left me terrified at what might happened to me in the future if O’Brien is not convicted. I am scared to go out in case I bump into him.
“It was very scary – the gun looked real.
“It was horrifying. I am nervous about what may happen next.
“I suffer with anxiety and depression and this has not helped me at all.”
Charles Gabb, mitigating, said O’Brien was “immature” and had “catapulted himself into the Premier League of offending”, and added that O’Brien was remorseful.
In sentencing him, Judge Christopher Parker QC said O’Brien had clearly been bullied into using the weapon.
O’Brien, of Millers Pond Garden, pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing an imitation firearm.
He was sentenced to two years imprisonment.
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