A GWENT man has been jailed after he threatened police officers with an airgun.

David Black, aged 32, of Meadway Road, Rogiet, Monmouthshire, was sentenced at Newport Crown Court today for possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or violence.

He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

The court heard that two police officers on November 19, 2014, at around 5.45pm, went to Black's home address in Rogiet to conduct minor enquiries on a road traffic accident. They were directed to Black's bedroom where he was asleep, when he woke he became abusive and threatening towards the officers.

Black told officers that he was more equipped than their tasers and pulled out his compressed air pellet gun on the two officers which they believed was a hand gun.

John Lloyd, prosecuting, said: "They said to have someone point a gun at you is very frightening. They said they didn't know if the gun was real.

"One said they have never had a gun pointed at them in such a menacing fashion."

A armed response unit was called to the house. Mr Lloyd told the court that Black had stood by his front door lighting a cigarette as officers were waiting on an armed response unit.

He was unarmed when he was arrested.

Laurence Jones, defending, told the court that Black had the gun as a hobby and that is is not unlawful to posses it.

He said: "No weapon was discharged it was not a firearm as such. It was an idiotic way to clear the police officers from his bedroom."

He told the court that Black had chronic back pain due to an industrial accident which he is prescribed morphine based pain killers and was under the influence at the time of the offence.

The court heard that Black's previous convictions include common assault in 2002 and 2004 as well as criminal damage in 2003 and 2006.

Judge Tom Crowther QC, said: "You shouted abuse at officers and an armed response unit was called. You were stood at the door of your house lightening a cigarette. You were toying with them.

"The compressed air pellet gun has resemblance of a pistol. I have to consider what you did with it. It was an imitation but it was realistic."

He added: "Threatening police officers is a serious offence and only a term of imprisonment can be justified."

Black was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and will have to pay a victim surcharge.

The judge granted an order from the prosecution to have the gun destroyed.