A TEENAGER who ambushed a house party and held an imitation handgun to the head of a man has been warned he will go to jail if he “plays the gangster again”.

Owain Harris, 18, of Fort View in Bassaleg, Newport - who previously pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm - climbed over a garden fence to get into the party in Old Pant Rd, Newbridge, on November 11 last year, Newport Crown Court heard on Thursday.

Jason Howells, prosecuting, said the three boys had been refused entry at around 10pm as they had not been invited to the event.

When they entered by climbing over a garden fence, they were again told to leave by a woman, but Harris was said to have laughed in her face.

“At this point the defendant is described as reaching to the area of his left arm pit where he pulled the imitation firearm out from what appeared to be a bag,” said Mr Howells.

The complainant in the case believed the gun to be real, Mr Howells said. The imitation gun, which was not loaded, was held to the head of a man, before also being pointed at the complainant. Mr Howells told the court the safety valve was set to fire.

Harris was heard shouting that he would shoot anyone else who comes out of the house, the court heard.

Firearms officers attended and found Harris in the grounds of a nearby church, where a sports bag containing the imitation gun was also found.

The court heard the imitation gun was a Japanese model which was in working order when test fired with airgun pellets.

It did not have sufficient power to be classified as a firearm and the model has never be known to cause lethal injury, Mr Howells said.

Karl Williams, defending, said it was accepted this was a “frightening incident” for those at the party who believed it to be a real gun.

Harris, of no previous convictions, had suffered a type of epileptic fit a year ago which caused a “material change” to his personality, Mr Williams said.

The court heard Harris had started taking cocaine and associating with a “bad crowd.” But after undertaking voluntary work, he has since found employment and overcome the period of ‘general misbehaving,’ the court heard.

Mr Williams added the imitation gun was not loaded and that there was no serious risk.

Judge Daniel Williams sentenced Harris to eight months detention in a young offenders’ institution, suspended for 18 months.

“Play the gangster again and you will be locked up, then you will see how funny it is,” said Judge Williams, sentencing.

A surcharge of £140 was also made. Destruction of the weapon was ordered.