A court has heard how two Isle of Man police officers feared for their lives when they were confronted with a man brandishing a gun.

Forty-two year old Darren Robert John Prior, of Allan Street, Douglas is beginning a ten month prison term, after admitting possessing a firearm with intent to commit a serious offence.

Officers called to the scene thought he was carrying an automatic rifle.

James Davis reports (text, below, from attached audio file):

Officers were called to Derby Square in the early hours of March 17, after locals reported an armed man in the area.

Sergeant Mark Britton told the court he saw Prior dressed in black body armour holding what appeared to be an Armalite rifle.

At one point he walked to the entrance of an old people's home with his finger on the trigger.

The court was told he then trained it on the two officers, who genuinely feared they were going to be fired at.

Prior was arrested later at his home when the gun was discovered to be a replica.

Deemster Doyle described the offence as very serious and said anyone who possessed a firearm, replica or not, posed a danger to society.

(Picture: Part of a real Armalite automatic rifle, similar to the replica brandished by the defendant).