Gun-wielding householder threatens drone pilot filming for estate agent

Watch: Moment drone pilot threatened by man brandishing a gun

This is the shocking moment a householder armed with a gun threatened a drone pilot who was photographing a property for an estate agent.

The 33-year-old drone pilot, who is fully registered and licensed, was flying the aircraft in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, at around 9.30am on Monday when he was approached by a man holding a firearm.

The pilot told the angry resident that he was filming an unrelated property for an estate agent but the suspect began acting aggressively.

He claimed he was trying to shoot the drone down, telling the pilot: “You bring it over my house and I will fire at it…

“If you do it again, I will fire at it again. I took three shots at it and I missed.”

When the armed man prodded the pilot with the weapon, he was able to disarm him – grabbing the gun and kicking it away.

The suspect then fled the scene in his car but armed officers were deployed and arrested a 71-year-old man from Cirencester when he returned to the location.

He was held on suspicion of possessing a firearm with the intent to cause fear and has since been released under investigation.

Gloucestershire Police also seized an air rifle following the incident.

A spokesman said: "Police were called to reports of a person making threats with a weapon on Shepherds Way, Cirencester, at around 9.30am on Monday, 22 August.

"Armed officers attended the scene and an air rifle was seized.

"A 71-year-old man from Cirencester was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm with the intent to cause fear. He has been released under investigation while enquiries continue."