A teenager pointed his six-year-old brother’s toy gun at a man who had confronted him with a knife and a hammer.
Ricky Corner, 19, said he was trying to protect himself and his sister when he took the fake pistol from his waistband.
He ended up at Teesside Crown Court facing a possible custodial sentence for brandishing the less-than-lethal weapon.
He argued with his sister’s partner at a home on Easson Street, Grove Hill, Middlesbrough at about 7.30pm on September 29 last year.
The other man went into the kitchen, took a knife from the draining board and chased Corner out of the house with it.
Corner returned to the home 20 minutes later saying he wanted to apologise, Teesside Crown Court heard today.
The man came out of the house holding a hammer and threatened Corner with it, said prosecutor Sue Jacobs.
She said: “At that stage the defendant produced from his waistband what appeared to be a gun and pointed it at (the man).
“It’s a plastic toy.”
He later said he took it because he was frightened he would be threatened again and was concerned for his sister.
He owned up to police and no one else made statements or complaints.
Corner, of Valley Road, Grove Hill, admitted possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, his first offence.
Rachel Dyson, defending, said Corner came back with his six-year-old brother’s toy plastic gun down his trousers in case there was any further threat to him.
He said he wanted to use it to stop the other man getting close enough to cause him injury.
In a character reference his father - for whom he is a carer - said he was sensitive person at heart.
“It seems that this incident stemmed from Mr Corner wishing to protect his sister,” said Miss Dyson.
His sister told police she did not believe the gun was real at the time.
Miss Dyson said Corner was of “exemplary character” with no previous convictions or cautions and no criminal associates.
She said: “He is embarrassed and ashamed that he is the first one of his group to be before the court.”
She added he was completely frank with police, accepted full responsibility and did not blame anyone else for his “foolish decision”.
He was now reconciled with the other people involved and had put the matter behind him.
Judge Peter Bowers told Corner: “This is your first visit to court, which is a real feather in your cap that you’ve avoided being in trouble all these years.
“You acted on a misguided impulse to frighten (the other man) if he threatened you again.
“When you were stopped by police you were honest and open and you pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.”
A probation officer said a custodial sentence would have a “devastating” impact on him and his family.
“It would also introduce you to people and situations you’ve so far managed to avoid,” added the judge.
He gave Corner a community order with a year’s supervision, saying: “I think that’s all this offence requires.”
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