A frustrated pub regular who used a James Bond-style replica gun to try to teach a young "troublemaker" a lesson, has avoided a jail sentence.

Adam Mitchell, 31, finally snapped when another customer at the Kings Head in Halifax Road, Odsal, Bradford, collared a teenage boy who was among a group of youngsters messing about in the car park.

Prosecutor Heather Weir told a judge yesterday that Mitchell took a 15-year-old outside. "The complainant said he was dragged to a white van by the defendant. The door was opened and he pulled out a black gun with a big barrel," said Mrs Weir.

The youngster described the weapon as a 'James Bond-type gun', but Mrs Weir confirmed it was a blank-firing pistol. "The defendant, according to the complainant, put the gun to the child's chest and waved it around saying 'we've had lots or problems round here with damage and break-ins'," said Mrs Weir. "The complainant describes being very scared, not knowing what the man would do next. But he feared he would shoot him." The boy was eventually released by Mitchell.

The teenager reported the incident to police and Judge Peter Benson expressed amazement yesterday that a police officer had told the boy to go back and get the registration number of the van. "I find the whole thing quite alarming," he said.

Mitchell, who runs an electrical, joinery and building business, was traced through his works van and when police officers visited his home in Bowes Nook, Buttershaw, he immediately told them where the gun was and how to empty it. The imitation weapon, which he said he had bought from a fishing shop, had two rounds in it and more ammunition was found in the van.

Mitchell, who himself has previous convictions for offences including criminal damage, pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

His lawyer Nick Carter said Mitchell realised what he was doing was wrong when he saw the horror on the boy's face and went straight home afterwards because he felt ashamed. "He told me he wanted to tell the court how absolutely gutted he was at what had happened," he added.

Judge Benson said he had first thought a custodial sentence was inevitable in the case, but he was prepared to treat the incident as a one-off. Instead he ordered Mitchell to do 140 hours community service work and pay his young victim £250 compensation. He also ordered him to pay £245 court costs.

After the case, Tony Nicholson, landlord of the Kings Head, said there had been a spate of crime in the area before the problems on that night. "On two separate occasions, in the space of an hour, bricks went through the window," he said. "I'm not saying it was the right thing to do because it was a silly thing to do, but I can understand why he did it."

He said customers in the pub were supportive of Mr Mitchell and he was glad he didn't get a prison sentence. "The thing about Adam is that he is a regular who drinks in here but he owns his own business and is up for work every day and fair play to the lad."