The day an Oamaru man bought a rifle was the same day the armed offenders squad was called out to the Oamaru house he was in after a domestic dispute, the Oamaru District Court, sitting in Timaru before Judge Joanna Maze, heard yesterday.
Hamish John Sawers (21), admitted unlawfully possessing the .22 rifle without a licence and verbally threatening Jodi Bromby-Robson on November 22.
On each charge, he was sentenced to six months' supervision and the firearm's destruction was ordered.
Police prosecutor Mike Wingfield said Sawers arrived at the Oxford St address with the rifle, which he left inside the front door.
An argument developed with the victim, whom he threatened to throw out of a window.
Sawers retrieved the rifle and threatened to harm himself.
After another argument outside, Sawers went inside and locked the victim out.
The victim called the police, who surrounded the property to wait for the armed offenders squad from Dunedin.
Told by a friend about that, Sawers gave him the rifle, which was later recovered by police.
After a standoff with police including the armed offenders squad lasting about three hours, Sawers surrendered.
