A man has been jailed after his nephew’s toy gun was spotted in his car by a police officer.

Mark Anthony Priestnal, of Marine Parade, Peel, was spotted by a special constable with a James Bond toy gun in his lap when he was stopped at traffic lights on December 29.

The 61-year-old admitted an offence of possessing an imitation firearm in a public place and was jailed for 10 weeks.

Defence advocate Jane Gray said the gun was a toy which Priestnal had previously given to his nephew who had now outgrown it.

Priestnal said he had kept it in the car’s glove compartment out of sight before the incident.

Ms Gray said that Priestnal’s phone had rung and he picked it up to tell the caller he could not speak but by that time the special constable had reported the matter.

’He didn’t understand what was going on,’ said the advocate.

’In his mind this was a toy gun. He didn’t realise his acts could cause distress.

Foolish

’The toy wasn’t taken out of the car. It wasn’t taken out in public.’

The court heard that Priestnal has been on remand since January 23 and his advocate said that he may lose his accommodation if he was held in custody any longer.

A probation report assessed Priestnal as a low risk of reoffending and a low risk of harm to others.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes told Priestnal: ’You were foolish in the extreme to keep it in your vehicle and even more foolish to take it out of the glove compartment and put it into view.’

After being sentenced Priestnal said: ’This could happen to anybody.’ Mrs Hughes told him: ’It could only happen to anybody if they were foolish enough to have it in their car.’