A DRUNKEN pub customer who pulled a BB gun on shocked bar staff has been jailed.

Martin McQuade (57) from Trinity Road, London, walked into the Station Inn in Hexham before pulling out the air gun, pointing it towards staff and pulling the trigger back.

At Newcastle Crown Court last week McQuade was sentenced to 13 months behind bars after admitting to possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, during the incident in the summer of 2018.

The court was told McQuade had bought the gun in Newcastle city centre on June 12 before drinking to excess.

McQuade had bought the pistol-like gun legally with the intention of shooting rats, the court heard.

He then travelled to Hexham later in the day where he continued drinking.

In the Station Inn, McQuade complained that the pint he had ordered wasn’t in the pint glass he wanted, and this was subsequently changed.

After a short period, McQuade pulled out the gun from a white bag he had been carrying and held it at chest height towards bar staff before pulling the trigger back.

However, no noise from the gun was heard.

McQuade was tracked down through CCTV after leaving the bar, and police found the BB gun at his home address.

A warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to appear in court in June last year, and the case was transferred to Newcastle after he pleaded guilty to the charge at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court in February.

The court heard that McQuade, who had worked as a bricklayer and stonemason, was significantly drunk at the time of the incident.

Andrew Walker, defending, said alcohol consumption was part of the reason why he acted the way he did.

Sentencing McQuade to 13 months in prison, Judge Edward Bindloss said that three people in the bar were petrified by McQuade’s actions, because they had no idea if the gun was working or loaded.