A RINGWOOD man who threatened to shoot two firefighters with a BB rifle that was made to look like a real gun has been jailed.

The Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service officers were called to the Winston Way home of Andrew Lambert at about 10pm on July 21.

As they were dealing with a bonfire in his garden, the 40-year-old threatened to shoot them from a first floor window.

The imitation firearm was later identified as an "Airsoft" BB rifle with a scope, painted black to make it look like a real firearm.

Lambert pleaded guilty to affray on December 3 December at Bournemouth Crown Court and was sentenced on Friday (March 29) to 18 months in prison.

He will also serve a further six months after a suspended sentence order was activated.

Detective Constable Chris Orr said: “This was a frightening experience for the firefighters involved and we are delighted that the man responsible has been brought to justice.

“This should send a warning to anyone else tempted to behave in this irresponsible and threatening manner.”

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Stew Adamson, the director of operations for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "It is completely unacceptable for emergency service workers to have to worry about acts such as these while they are trying to help the public.

"Not only can they obstruct or delay crews from carrying out what can often be life-saving work, there can also be lasting impacts on the staff who are subjected to this type of disgraceful behaviour.

"We are greatly encouraged by the new legislation that provides greater powers to deal with such assaults on blue-light workers and I would like to thank our colleagues from Hampshire Constabulary for their work in bringing this particular criminal to justice."