A man was so outraged after youths tormented and stole from his disabled mother that he decided to retaliate.

Now 35-year-old Peter Mulcahy, of Rendezvous Street, Folkestone, has ended up in prison.

Using a gun which was not capable of firing, he threatened one of the youths who had been involved in a campaign of harassment against his mother.

Mulcahy’s mother Sharon, who has since died, had repeatedly reported “nuisance youths”

disturbing her flat in Warren Close, Folkestone.

She suffered verbal abuse and banging on her doors.

Two weeks before the gun incident there had been a break-in at the flat and money and cigarettes stolen.

Mulcahy finally snapped after learning that his 57-year-old mother had been forced to cower inside her home as teenagers tried to kick in her door.

One of the youths was caught and taken to youth court.

Mrs Mulcahy was informed in a letter from the police that he was given a supervision order for criminal damage, burglary and harassment.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Mulcahy, an unemployed graphic designer, went to the flat on October 24 last year after hearing about more trouble.

Aaron Begg, 19, walked into the flat and Mulcahy grabbed him by the neck and pointed a 12-bore sawn-off shotgun at him. Mr Begg broke free and ran off.

Armed police surrounded the area and one officer went to the back of the flat and found family friend Samantha Read, 41, about to dispose of the weapon.

Mulcahy told police he bought the gun at a boot fair.

He said his mother had been terrorised by local youths for about a year. She was disabled and had mental health problems.

Peter Forbes, for Mulcahy, said his client believed he acted with moral, if not legal justification.

Mulcahy was jailed for 16 months after admitting possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Judge Jeremy Carey said the weapon was capable of putting others in fear, whether it could fire or not.

He said: “No one hearing the facts of this case would take issue with the fact that a son wishes to do everything he can to protect his mother, particularly where she is vulnerable.

“But it is important it must be done within the law.”

Read, 41, of Warren Close, admitted perverting the course of justice.

She was given an eight-month sentence, which was suspended for 18 months.

The mother-of-two will also be subject to a 7pm to 7am curfew for two months.