Masked man sparked 'mass shooting' fears as he walked towards primary school carrying 'guns'
A man wearing a balaclava and carrying two guns on a housing estate sparked fears a school could be targeted for a mass shooting. Ryan Brick, 30, of Cefn Road, Connah's Quay, was spotted on York Road, Connah's Quay in October 2022.
Armed police were called and roads were cordoned off, before police entered the property of Stephen Rimmer, where Brick had made his way to. A sentencing hearing today at Mold Crown Court heard Brick had dressed like that to protect his dog from people who may not have liked his pet.
Brick admitted possessing ammunition for a firearm without a certificate; possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence; and possessing an imitation firearm in a public place. Rimmer, 36, of Church Street, Connah's Quay, admitted possessing ammunition for a firearm without a certificate.
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Gareth Bellis, prosecuting, said that at around 1.20pm on October 19, 2022, members of the public saw Brick on York Road, Connah's Quay. He was walking towards a primary school wearing a high visibility vest and balaclava.
He had a dog on a lead and was carrying what looked like two shotguns. That was captured on camera and played to the court.
"Members of the public who saw him felt that something was not right," said Mr Bellis: "Some were shocked. Various witnesses called 999."
Firearms officers were called to the scene. Brick went into a property on Church Street - the home of Rimmer. The road was blocked off and Brick came out.
When asked about weapons in the house, Brick told officers about a deactivated rifle belonging to his brother and three BB guns and said there may also be some other firearms. He also warned officers his dog might bite after having just bitten someone. The dog was tranquilised, the court heard.
Brick was searched and found to have Remington Peters 0.22 cartridges and was arrested. A number of other imitation firearms were also seized.
Mr Bellis said: "In interview, he said he was taking his dog out for a walk and because of an earlier incident where his dog had attacked another dog, he had decided to take the guns out, to keep people away from him and his dog." He had bought the ammunition from a car boot sale and did not believe it was live and thought he didn't need a certificate.
The court heard Brick had a previous conviction for driving offences in 2009. Rimmer had two convictions for seven offences for two driving matters.
Myles Wilson, acting for Brick, said it was an "odd case". He had no grudge against anybody and didn't threaten anyone, but "for some reason has tried to make himself look as intimidating as possible". "Why he did that is a mystery", he said, adding: "It is almost the sort of thing a child would do." He said it was more frightening given that he was a grown man.
Mr Wilson said Brick had lived an isolated life recently, with drug issues, and was living with his father and grandmother, who had been hit hard by the death of his mother. He had been making efforts to address his drug taking and knew what he did was wrong.
Judge Niclas Parry said Brick had caused "havoc and real fear". The public were concerned at seeing a man in a balaclava, carrying two guns, going towards a primary school, he said.
He said: "It is indicative of the world we live in that members of the public could even imagine that there could be a mass killing of children at a school - but that's the world we live in. Police resources were wasted, armed police were called and roads cordoned off.
"But the reality is this was a more pathetic scenario. You were ready to threaten anybody who didn't like your dog - and that's what it boils down to."
Taking into account the background, Judge Parry handed Brick a six month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, with rehabilitation and drug rehabilitation requirements. Judge Parry said Rimmer was away on holiday at the time, allowing Brick to use his house and it was pure coincidence that when police arrived, they found one item of ammunition.
Rimmer was given a conditional discharge for two years.
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