A CWMBRAN man was jailed yesterday after admitting pointing an air rifle at police in an attempt to get them to shoot him.

David Fitzgerald, 48, of Glan Rhyd, Coed Eva, appeared in Cardiff Crown Court yesterday, having previously pleaded guilty to possessing an intimation firearm with intent to cause Sergeant Gareth Brown fear that violence would be used against him.

Prosecutor David Thomas said the incident happened on July 17, after Fitzgerald had been out drinking in the morning and returned home with a deep cut to his arm.

The court heard Fitzgerald’s family believed he had self-harmed and tried to get him to go to hospital, but he returned to Glan Rhyd at around 5.45pm in an agitated and irritable state with the wound still untreated.

Mr Thomas said Fitzgerald told his family he was going to get his gun and his son phoned the police.

Sgt Brown arrived with his colleague in a car as Fitzgerald came out of the property holding the rifle pointing slightly upwards.

Mr Thomas said Fitzgerald was told to put the weapon down and he responded by swearing at the officers, saying he wanted to die and wanted a “bullet”.

Armed police attended, and Fitzgerald was shot with a baton round causing him to fall to the floor where he was restrained.

Jennet Treharne, representing Fitzgerald, said his intention was to provoke the police into shooting him, the rifle was not loaded and the only person he intended to harm was himself.

She said his time on remand had helped him recognise his alcohol addiction and he was remorseful for his actions.

Judge William Gaskell said: “It’s perfectly clear that you wanted to provoke them into shooting you. You wanted them to think you presented a sufficient danger that they would have to shoot you.”

He sentenced Fitzgerald to 15 months in prison less the 84 days he spent on remand.