A MOTHER was left ‘petrified’ when a teenager shouted her son was a ‘dead man’ as he pointed an imitation gun at her face, a court heard.

Louis Pattinson, 18, of Firs Road, Milnthorpe, pulled the unloaded gun on the woman following an altercation with her son the previous night.

Carlisle Crown Court heard that the incident unfolded on December 30 last year at an address on Park Road, Milnthorpe.

“The woman was at her home address with adults and children,” said prosecutor Gerard Rogerson.

“She heard a knock on the back door and saw Pattinson holding what looked like a black hand gun.

“He pointed it in the general direction of the kitchen, where two young girls were painting.

“He was talking very fast and then pointed it directly in her face. She moved towards him to push him away and then he ran off.”

Mr Rogerson added the victim was ‘petrified’ and feared for the safety of her guests.

The court was told that the night before there was an altercation between Pattinson and his friend.

The following morning Pattinson received an ‘abusive and threatening’ Facebook message from that friend.

With the help of Pattinson police later found the imitation gun.

Chris Evans, mitigating, said: “He acted in an inexcusable way and rather impulsively.”

Pattinson pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Passing an 18 month prison sentence, suspended for two years, Michael Hayton QC, said: “You will not get another chance.”

Pattinson was also given a curfew from 7pm to 7am, to last for three months.