A DRUNK Oldbury man who left a paramedic in fear for his life when he pointed a pistol at his chest has walked free from court.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard the weapon was an air pistol, but the ambulanceman called to Garry Birch’s home in Hackett Court, believed it was a 9mm handgun.

David Lees prosecuting said after the ambulanceman arrived Birch, who was drunk, went into a bedroom and suddenly produced the weapon.

Mr Lees said: "He pointed it directly at him and he said he feared for his life.

"But instinctively he kicked out causing the gun to drop onto the mattress."

Mr Lees said experts later discovered the gun was an air pistol containing one spent cartridge but there was no magazine.

Judge Martin Walsh told 56-year-old Birch the emergency worker clearly believed the gun was real and was convinced he was going to be shot.

Paramedics, he stressed, performed a vital role in the community and the message had to go out "loud and clear" that they must be respected and protected.

But, ruled the Judge, he was just able to take an exceptional course in the case and allow Birch to keep his freedom because it was more important he received treatment for his alcohol problem.

Birch pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and was placed on supervision for three years on the condition he attends an alcohol treatment programme.

The Judge said Birch clearly had an "enduring alcohol problem" and it was while he was heavily intoxicated the request was made for the paramedics to call at his home.