'Shut up or I will shoot you all' - Armed Sheffield man threatened terrified students at loud party with imitation firearm

An armed man with an imitation firearm has been jailed after he threatened and warned students at a loud party to shut up.
By Jon Cooper
Published 20th Aug 2020, 11:45 BST
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Sheffield Crown Court heard on August 18 how Gareth Gratton, aged 34, of Mawfa Avenue, Norton, Sheffield, pointed the firearm at students and waved it around at the party on Shoreham Street, Sheffield.

Susan Evans, prosecuting, said Gratton had been at a next-door property with his partner and a relative before he visited the loud party and pointed the gun at students and waved it around telling them to shut up.

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Ms Evans said: “Some people thought it was believed to be real. He threatened people individually and essentially the whole group.”

Pictured is Gareth Gratton, aged 34, of Mawfa Avenue, Norton, Sheffield, who has been jailed for four-years and two-months after admitting possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or violence.Pictured is Gareth Gratton, aged 34, of Mawfa Avenue, Norton, Sheffield, who has been jailed for four-years and two-months after admitting possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or violence.
Pictured is Gareth Gratton, aged 34, of Mawfa Avenue, Norton, Sheffield, who has been jailed for four-years and two-months after admitting possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or violence.

Gratton held the gun behind the ear of one victim and caused bruising and told him next time he would pull the trigger, according to Ms Evans.

Recorder Adrian Langdale QC said Gratton told the party: “You are not from the streets. Shut up or I will shoot you all.”

Gratton pointed the gun at the chest of another victim, according to Recorder Langdale, and the defendant said, “You are dealing with a real gangster now”, before waving the gun around.

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Miss Evans added Gratton told people they should get out before he left in a car.

Pictured is Sheffield Crown Court.Pictured is Sheffield Crown Court.
Pictured is Sheffield Crown Court.

Recorder Langdale said a BB gun pellet was found in the car which indicated this was potentially the type of weapon used and which was described by one victim as looking like a Glock.

Recorder Langdale said: “It was aimed at multiple young people and threats were taken seriously.”

Four of the students stated they had feared for their safety and their lives.

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Gratton told police the neighbours had been noisy and he had gone around to the party holding a J2O drink bottle.

The defendant, who has previous convictions including robbery and possessing an offensive weapon, pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or violence after the incident on July 12.

Richard Barradell, defending, said Gratton reacted spontaneously because his mother-in-law lived next door and had complained about noise and music. He added Gratton is remorseful and very sorry.

Recorder Langdale sentenced Gratton to four-years and two-months of custody.