The property in Wingham where 73-year-old Alan Cripps lives

A gun-toting pensioner terrified a group of young men when he waved a firing pistol at them.

Canterbury Crown Court heard Alan Cripps, 73, wrecked his life's unblemished record following the incident in the village of Wingham, near Canterbury, in August.

The bearded, bespectacled retiree was arrested and charged by police and appeared before a judge on Monday where he admitted an offence under the Firearms Act 1968.

He pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm - a blank-firing revolver - to cause Oliver Coleman to believe unlawful violence would be used against him.

Cripps is now facing sentence - the offence carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison.

Mr Coleman, 21, was with friends in a privately-owned field behind Cripps's cottage in the village High Street on the night of Saturday, August 18.

They were leaving the area and driving towards the High Street when they saw a man standing on the pavement, the court heard.

The man walked over to the driver's side of the car and held up a revolver which he pointed directly at them and asked them to get out of the car.

The boys sped off in terror in their VW Golf and then heard the gun being fired behind them.

They identified the man they had seen as Cripps and Mr Coleman told his father what had happened.

Mr Coleman's father called Cripps and asked him if he had pointed a gun at his son. Cripps replied that it was a replica.

The police were called and spoke to Cripps, whom they believed to be drunk. Mr Coleman and his friends told officers that they had been terrified by Cripps's behaviour.

Alex Haines, defending, told the court the incident stemmed from previous thefts of metal from behind Cripps's house.

Kent Police firearms officers examined the gun and found it fired blank caps.

Spokesman Jon Green said: "Under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, it is an arrestable offence to carry an imitation firearm in a public place, whether or not it is capable of discharging a shot or a bullet.

"Carrying an air weapon in public, loaded or not, is also an offence. The maximum penalty is six months' imprisonment."

Judge James O’Mahoney adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report. Cripps is due to return to the court on Monday, October 15.