A man sparked an armed police response after neighbours spotted him roaming the streets carrying two guns while dressed in a black helmet, mask and stab vest.
Ian Jolly was pacing back and forth clutching what looked like a handgun and rifle when concerned members of the public spotted him outside their homes.
The 48-year-old was actually carrying an airsoft BB rifle and a BB handgun but a firearms incident was declared and officers swooped on the scene.
The incident happened at 12.40am on Merkland Road East on September 19 2021, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.
Fiscal depute Carol Gammie said: “He was wearing a black helmet, full black face mask, black stab vest, black rucksack and appeared to be in possession of a rifle and a small handgun.
“A member of the public thereafter contacted police.
“At about 1.20 hours, after this being declared a firearms incident, armed firearms officers and police constables attended at the locus and traced the accused at the rear of his home.
“What appeared to be a rifle and handgun were seen on open display through an
open window at the address.”
Jolly was cautioned and detained and, on being searched, was found to have a lock knife within his right trouser pocket.
He was taken to Kittybrewster Police Station while other officers searched his address.
Police found BB guns and knife
They discovered the airsoft BB rifle and airsoft BB handgun on display in his living room.
The stab vest, black helmet and full face mask were recovered during a further evidential search warrant along with various pellets.
Jolly admitted possession of imitation firearms in a public place and possession of a knife in a public place.
Defence agent Laura Gracie said the maximum imprisonment term for such an offence was 12 months but stressed her client had no analogous convictions and has not offended since 2018.
She asked Sheriff Ian Wallace to defer sentencing to allow for backround reports and a restriction of liberty order assessment to be prepared.
Jolly, of Merkland Road East, will reappear in court next month.
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