A man who caused an armed police manhunt after being spotted with a pistol in Maidstone town centre has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Richard Anderson had live shotgun cartridges, along with the deactivated gun, when he was arrested in Sheal’s Crescent on September 27.

Last week the 29-year-old, from Church Street in Burham, admitted possessing an imitation firearm and selling ammunition to someone who was not authorised to possess it.

Maidstone Magistrates’ Court heard he had taken the weapon from under his bed and stormed out following a booze-fuelled argument with his then girlfriend.

He went out drinking at several pubs and clubs in the town centre, where door staff saw the gun sticking out of the waistband of his trousers.

It was then that police were alerted and they began a search for Anderson.

Lorrayne Synmoir, prosecuting, explained how earlier in the day he had bought five rounds of ammunition from a man in Maidstone with the intention of buying a shotgun at a later date.

He sold two to a friend in Tovil but was found with the remaining cartridges when he was arrested.

Shortly before being detained he had made a bizarre phone call to police in which he told the operator he had caught a burglar and was holding a gun to his head, which was found to be untrue.

The court heard the furniture maker had three previous convictions for having offensive weapons and imitation firearms, the most recent of which was in June last year.

Jamas Hodivala, defending, called it a “stupid error of judgement” that came about due to Anderson being intoxicated.

The magistrates heard he had a problem with alcohol and had been diagnosed with ADHD.

Anderson said he did not know why he sought weapons when drunk but accepted it was probably to make him look macho.

He was given a 60-day prison sentence, suspended for a year, as well as an alcohol treatment requirement for six months.

He will be subject to a rehabilitation activity requirement for 50 days with supervision and was ordered to pay £345 costs.