A MAN who carried two imitation firearms through a Deeside town - in a 'pathetic' attempt to make himself 'look intimidating' has been sentenced, along with his brother.

Ryan Brick, of Cefn Road in Connah's Quay, and Stephen Rimmer of Church Street in Connah's Quay, appeared before Mold Crown Court on Tuesday, October 29.

Brick, 30, previously pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing an imitation firearm in a public place, one count of possessing ammunition for a firearm without a certificate and one count of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or violence.

Rimmer, 36, previously pleaded guilty to possessing ammunition for a firearm without a certificate.

Gareth Bellis, prosecuting, said that the incident took place at around 1.20pm on October 19, 2022.

Members of the public had become concerned when they spotted Brick - who was armed with what looked like two shotguns and was wearing a hiz viz jacket and a balaclava - heading in the direction of a primary school in Connah's Quay.

Brick was also walking a dog on a lead at the time, with one of the firearms in hand and one 'strapped' to his body.

Mr Bellis said that various members of the public felt 'that something wasn't right' when they spotted Brick and a 'number of witnesses called 999'.

When police officers tracked Brick down to Dunbar Close, they believed the guns to be 'genuine'.

The defendant then ran away to Rimmer's address on Church Street. He was away on holiday but allowed his brother to use his home, the court heard.

Church Street was then blocked off in order for armed police officers to attend the house and, after a short time, Brick came out and told them that they might find 'BB guns and some legitimate firearms' at the address which 'belong to his brother'.

He also warned that the dog he had taken for a walk with him 'might bite'.

The dog was tranquilised and police entered the home to find five Remington Peters bullet cartages as well as a number of imitation firearms.

At interview, Brick told police that he had decided to take the firearms out to 'keep people away from him and his dog' after they had allegedly previously been attacked.

He said he had bought them at a car-boot sale and thought he 'didn't need a licence' for them.

Myles Wilson, defending Brick, said: "This was a very odd case, because he had no grudge against anybody and he made no threats. 

"For some reason, he's made a decision to try and look as intimidating as possible and why he did that is a mystery."

Mr Wilson added that, at the time of the incident, Brick had 'sunk into taking drugs' following the death of his mother.

Sentencing the brothers, Judge Niclas Parry said: "Mr Brick, you caused havoc and real fear. The public were concerned by seeing a man wearing a balaclava going towards a primary school.

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"It is indicative of the times we live in that, even in Connah's Quay, people could even begin to imagine that there could be a mass killing of children at a school.

"But, in reality, this was much more pathetic than that."

Judge Parry added: "Mr Rimmer, you were away on holiday and you allowed Mr Brick to use home, but ammunition was found there, you are simply here because of that.

Rimmer was discharged conditionally for two years and an order for the forfeiture and destruction of the ammunition seized was made.

Brick was sentenced for the three counts of possessing an imitation firearm in a public place, facing no separate penalty for the other two counts.

He was handed a six-month jail term, which was suspended for 18 months.