A HARD-working family man fired a blank round from his replica gun as a warning to vandals who damaged his and his daughter’s cars in Birchwood.

Vilhelm Barnut confronted a group of drunken men described as ‘absolute nuisances’ by an eyewitness after being informed of the damage they had caused outside his Whinchat Drive home.

After being verbally and racially abused by members of the group, the 36-year-old Romanian national retrieved the imitation weapon from a safe in his house and returned to his doorstep.

The father of five then fired the single round into the air which caused the men to flee, before inspecting the damage to the cars and proclaiming: “I’ll f*****g kill them.”

Barnut appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday to learn his fate after pleading guilty to a sole charge of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Prosecutor Trevor Parry-Jones told the court how on October 6 last year, shortly after midnight, a neighbour heard a commotion in the street outside involving a group of males arguing.

He described hearing crashing noises and the sound of breaking glass before hearing an ‘almighty crash and bang’, prompting him to call the police.

A second resident reported seeing the men damaging people’s cars, throwing stones at windows, throwing bins and being ‘absolute nuisances’.

Warrington Guardian:

Whinchat Drive in Birchwood (Google Maps)

As the first witness approached the address the defendant lived at, he saw Barnut running out of his front door as two men were walking away.

He watched as the defendant raised his arm in the air and fired his replica pistol – a Kuzey 911T 9mm – which caused a ‘very loud bang’ and a flame to emit from the muzzle of the gun. The two men subsequently fled the area.

Firearms officers arrived at the scene to arrest the defendant, who told officers that the firearm was in a safe upstairs and provided both the key and the code.

The gun was recovered alongside 38 blank rounds and a further four rounds from the magazine of the pistol, which was described as ‘very realistic’.

During a police interview, Barnut explained that he was fearful for his safety because of the men shouting and swearing at him, which is why he fired one shot in the air to warn them off.

He also revealed that he bought the gun online for £200 after someone tried to break into his house a year previously.

In defence of his client, David Baxter informed the court how Barnut had no previous convictions in this country or in Romania.

He said: “It is absolutely clear he is a hard-working man who works six days a week and does overtime when it is offered.

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“His aim in life is to provide a better life for his wife and children with better opportunities for them going forward. The interests of his family are paramount for this man.

“Immediate custody would punish him – and he deserves to be punished – but it would also punish his family who rely on him.”

Taking this into account, judge Louise Brandon told Barnut that his actions were ‘so serious’ that a custodial penalty was inevitable, but she added that the unusual circumstances that led to them could allow her to suspend his sentence.

“I accept that you regret your actions and that you understand the seriousness of your behaviour,” she said.

“I make it clear that the circumstances do not justify your behaviour, but you went out to protect your property and your daughter and you received racial abuse.

“I am satisfied that if you were to receive an immediate custodial sentence, your family would suffer greatly.”

Barnut was sentenced to nine months in prison suspended for 18 months and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

An order was also approved for the forfeiture and destruction of the gun and rounds.