A MAN terrified pub staff by having what appeared to be a gun tucked into his waistband, a court heard.

Francis Simms had sat in the Golden Lion in Rochester High Street with what looked like the butt of a pistol protruding an inch-and-a-half above his trousers.

Simms then fell asleep and four armed police officers arrested him. The gun was later found to be a toy, Medway magistrates heard.

Nicholas Markendale, prosecuting, told the court: "It was a very frightening incident for those involved. The shift manager was very scared and she and the staff had a huge amount of relief that it came to a peaceful conclusion.''

Simms, 47, of Gravel Walk, Rochester, pleaded guilty to a charge under the Public Order Act of displaying a representation that was threatening and was fined £75 and ordered to pay £55 costs.

Magistrates heard that Simms had a drink problem and they accepted he had been foolish rather than intending to be threatening. Mr Markendale said that on the afternoon of Saturday, September 20, two women customers in the Wetherspoons pub had told staff that they had seen a man with a gun.

The concern was confined to staff rather than customers and Mr Markendale said the shift manager was worried for all and because there was a large amount of money on the premises. She went over pretending to clear tables to check for herself.

Mr Markendale said that at one stage Simms fell off his stool and sat on the floor and she helped him on his feet and walked him to another table.

Police were called and sealed off the area and four officers restrained Simms on the floor and handcuffed him.

Derek Hayward, for Simms, said that his client had bought a toy gun from Strood market, though it was not known why. He didn't even remember taking the toy gun out of its box, which police later found in his pocket.

He said: "There was a lot of concern, which he was oblivious to. He was horrified to be woken up by armed officers. Now he is embarrassed and offers his apologies. He accepts this is serious."

The court heard that Simms, a part-time cleaner, was a regular drinker at the pub and there had been no problems with him before.