Cowboy fan police airgun incident

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A Wild West enthusiast fired a shot at police called to a disturbance at his Borders home.

George Horsburgh, 59, from Hume, near Kelso, had kitted out his shed like a Wild West set housing replica guns, the High Court in Edinburgh was told.

Horsburgh grabbed an ornamental axe - a Native American tomahawk - during the fracas last July.

He admitted discharging an airgun pellet towards a police officer and sentence was deferred until 15 June.

Horsburgh told police he "just flipped" after a fall-out with his wife over his drinking.

Judge Lord Turnbull heard the offence happened on 4 July last year, coincidentally Independence Day in the United States.

Advocate depute, Angus Stewart QC, said the property had an out-building which appeared to have been renovated into a "Wild West-type saloon bar full of cowboy memorabilia".

His wife seems to have locked him into the shed to stop him getting out Angus Stewart QC

"The accused's hobby is Wild West memorabilia," he said.

"A search of the premises revealed that the shed was fitted out like a Wild West set.

"It contained a number of replica weapons, some of which were seized and examined."

The lawyer told the judge the accused had been arguing with his wife after she returned from a week's holiday in Spain.

"At about 9.15pm he left the house and went into his shed to cool off," Mr Stewart said.

"His wife seems to have locked him into the shed to stop him getting out.

The court heard Horsburgh's wife had locked him in his shed

"He became angry and used a crowbar or similar implement to force his way out again, and his wife then retreated into the house, locking the door."

Horsburgh then took the axe from the shed and tried to force open the door to the house.

He maintained the axe was made of plaster and said he used a tyre lever to force the door.

Police were summoned to the incident by a 999 call.

Local officers and two armed response units from Edinburgh were sent to the scene where Horsburgh appeared with what looked like a long-barrelled rifle.

Probably drunk

He was warned to put the weapon down but instead ran away into the bushes.

A shot then rang out and one officer, Constable Craig Lorimer, heard the sound of a pellet going past his head.

Horsburgh claimed his intention had been to shoot the tyres on the police cars and not to injure officers but he accepted he had fired in their direction.

A psychiatrist found he was probably drunk at the time of the offence.

Horsburgh also pleaded guilty to a breach of the peace and two charges of possessing prohibited weapons.

He remains on bail and will be sentenced on 15 June.