A pensioner who threatened a drone pilot with a gun because he thought he was filming his sunbathing wife has swerved jail.

Michael Edwards, 72, was caught wielding the weapon on video as he rushed out of his home in a rage to confront Swindon-based videographer Daine Gooden.

Mr Gooden was legitimately filming a neighbour's home from the sky for an estate agent listing on August 22 last year but Edwards angrily confronted him while armed and claimed it was illegal

Edwards, from Cirencester, had pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm, a Huntington G10 air pistol, at a hearing last month and was back in Gloucester Crown Court to be sentenced on April 28.  

Swindon Advertiser: Michael Edwards, who pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm after he was filmed angrily confronting a drone pilot from Swindon working near his home. arriving to court for his sentencing.Michael Edwards, who pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm after he was filmed angrily confronting a drone pilot from Swindon working near his home. arriving to court for his sentencing. (Image: SWNS)

He was given a curfew and ordered to wear a tag and pay compensation to Mr Gooden.

The court heard how Mr Gooden tried to calmly explain why he was flying the drone, but the defendant refused to accept his explanation, repeatedly telling him not to fly it near his house – stating: "If you do it again, I will fire at it again. I took three shots at it and I missed."

The victim said "Don't point that gun at me," to which the suspect responded, "Don't point a f***ing drone at me."

Edwards is then said to have hit the drone case with the gun, causing damage to it. 

Chris Smyth, prosecuting, said Mr Gooden’s activity was “perfectly lawful” and confirmed that he was fully registered with the CAA as required.

He said the defendant was “erratic with his arms and the gun”, adding that he was “only a foot away from the victim being aggressive, irate and shouting and swearing about the drone”.

Fearing for his safety and of those around him, Mr Gooden wrestled with the gunman to disarm him and kicked the weapon away. Edwards collected the gun and ran back into his house.

Police were called to the scene and armed officers arrested the defendant.

In custody, he admitted what he had done – but claimed he was concerned the drone pilot was either casing his property or photographing his wife sunbathing.

Edwards was handed a 12-month community order with one requirement – for the defendant to complete a four-month curfew between 7pm-7am daily, which will be monitored by a GPS tag.

He was ordered to pay £3,000 in compensation to Mr Gooden - £2,000 for the damaged drone and loss of earnings and £1,000 for the distress caused.