Teen threatened taxi driver with fake gun

David Arnott, 19, from Linlithgow, took a cab with two friends from South Bridge in Edinburgh to the Craigour area of the city on May 15 last year.

When the taxi reached its destination he jumped out and proceeded to pull out a fake gun, which the driver, William Simpson, believed to be real, and forced him to unlock the car doors to let his friends out.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, Arnott pleaded guilty to intending not to pay the fare and to pointing an imitation firearm at the driver. He also admitted intending to pervert the course of justice by asking a friend to hide the gun for him.

Fiscal depute Melanie Ward said: "They arrived at around 12.15am and the accused got out of the car but the other two were still inside.

"The accused removed an imitation firearm and pointed it at Mr Simpson. He wanted the taxi driver to open the doors.

"Mr Simpson did not know the gun was fake and he was very alarmed so he allowed them to leave.

"He didn't contact police immediately but when he returned home he was shaken and a family member persuaded him to speak to police.

"The accused then handed the gun over to a friend to try and cover up the incident."

Sentence was deferred until February 25 for reports.