The shocking moment one brave woman confronts a rifle-wielding thug who was on a drunken rampage fuelled by 27 pints of beer

  • Stephen Barrett went on late-night rampage through Scarborough, Yorks
  • 34-year-old pointed 22-calibre air rifle directly at head of his terrified victim
  • She tried to reason with him, saying: 'Please put the gun down', court told
  • Barrett, who has history of mental health problems, jailed for 12 months 

By Steph Cockroft for MailOnline

Published: 03:55 EST, 30 July 2015 | Updated: 05:25 EST, 30 July 2015

This is the shocking moment that a brave woman confronted a marauding gunman as he went on a alcohol-fuelled rampage after downing 27 pints of beer.

In terrifying footage captured on CCTV, Stephen Barrett was seen pointing a 22-calibre air rifle at his victim as he ran amok through the streets of Scarborough, North Yorkshire during the late-night attack.

After aiming the weapon at cars outside his home, the 34-year-old strode towards a takeaway where he was seen loading up the rifle and aiming it directly at the woman's head.

Brave: This is the moment that a woman confronted a rifle-wielding thug after he went on a late-night rampage through Scarborough after downing 27 pints of beer

Brave: This is the moment that a woman confronted a rifle-wielding thug after he went on a late-night rampage through Scarborough after downing 27 pints of beer

But, despite fearing for her life, the woman began reasoning with her attacker, telling him: 'Please put the gun down.' Barrett, who has a history of mental health problems, then fled from the scene and continued his rampage.

The gunman has now been jailed for 12 months after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

In a statement given in court, the woman - who has not been named - told how she tried to coax Barrett into putting down the gun amid fears he would cause serious harm.

She said: 'He seemed so out of it and had no emotion.' 

An eyewitness who saw the attack added that it was 'shocking'. 'You see some incredible sights on a night out in Scarborough, but someone pointing a gun at a girl is something else,' they said.

The victim bravely confronted her attacker, telling him: 'Please put the gun down.' Barrett, 34, also pointed the rifle at cars outside his home during the late-night attack

The victim bravely confronted her attacker, telling him: 'Please put the gun down.' Barrett, 34, also pointed the rifle at cars outside his home during the late-night attack

Prosecutor Beth Richardson told York Crown Court how Barrett - who has 31 previous convictions - was first spotted on CCTV pointing the weapon at cars outside his home during the attack in June this year. One vehicle had to swerve to avoid the gun, she said.

The court heard how Barrett then walked towards the centre of town 'pointing and aiming the weapon in different directions, holding it on his shoulder as if preparing to fire'. 

At 2.20am, Barrett then reached a takeaway, where he saw the woman outside pulled out the gun.

Barrett has been jailed for 12 months after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence

Barrett has been jailed for 12 months after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence

She said: 'The woman saw him put something in the gun and pull it back. As he did so, it made a clicking noise. He brought the gun up to his chest and pointed it directly at (the victim).

'She tried to engage him in conversation, saying: "We can sort this out, please put the gun down".'

The police were called but by the time officers arrived Barrett had run off. He was found a short distance away where he then aimed the rifle at officers.

He dropped the weapon after a police vehicle was driven towards him. Officers then pounced on him, tackling him to the ground.

A forensic examination of the weapon later found it to be faulty and incapable of firing.

Barrett told officers after his arrest that he was drunk and could not remember the incident. 

The court heard that Barrett had 31 previous convictions for 60 offences, including three for possessing an offensive weapon in public and others for ABH, arson, criminal damage, affray and threatening behaviour.

Taryn Turner, for Barrett, said his criminal record was a result of a 'dangerous cocktail' of alcohol and mental health issues.

Just a few weeks before the attack on June 9, he had been sectioned under the Mental Health Act, the court was told. 

Mrs Turner said: 'This is a case of a drunken man wafting a potentially lethal weapon about as if it was a wand, but he did not do any damage.'

Barrett was also ordered to pay £900 in costs.  


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