A 24-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for 20 months after he terrified families by brandishing a realistic-looking black handgun in a Keighley street.

Firearms officers and the police helicopter were scrambled after Jonathon Warren shouted threats and kicked at a house door while holding a replica Jericho 941 pistol, a weapon developed by Israel Weapon Industries.

People feared the gun was real when drunken Warren caused a disturbance in the middle of the night in Third Avenue, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

He pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence at 1am on April 7.

Prosecutor Stephanie Hancock said James Walker and his sister Victoria watched on CCTV from inside the house as Warren banged at the door, shouting: "If you don't open up I am going to kill Craig."

Miss Hancock said this was a reference to a former partner of Warren's.

One brave neighbour, Lisa Lee, persuaded Warren to leave the street.

At first, she believed the gun was real, and warned him there were children in the house, but he showed her it was imitation.

After a 40-minute search, Warren, of Church Lane, Pudsey, was traced to his then address in nearby Foster Road and arrested after a struggle.

The gun was found by the police hidden behind a panel beneath the cooker.

Miss Hancock said the BB pistol was not capable of being fired that night.

Stephen Wood, barrister for Warren, said he was ashamed of getting drunk and frightening innocent members of the public.

"He allows grievances to build up in a totally inappropriate way," Mr Wood said.

Warren had problems of his own and walked away when bravely confronted by Miss Lee.

The gun was unloaded and the gas cartridge spent.

Judge Robert Bartfield told Warren: "Anybody who takes a gun out on to the streets, or an imitation gun, and causes people to fear for their lives, will always receive a custodial sentence."

Warren was seeking retribution with Mr Walker, after he had got drunk.

Miss Walker thought it was a real gun and feared they would all be killed.