Man found guilty of using BB gun to make threats at Shrewsbury bus station
A man threatened someone with an airgun at a town centre bus station on the same day he bought it, a court heard.
Kieran Simon Taylor bought the BB gun and 1,000 pellets from a tattoo shop in Shrewsbury before bumping into a group of people he knew at the bus station in Raven Meadows, Telford Magistrates Court was told.
He then threatened to use the BB gun on one of the members of the group, pulling a "bright orange object" from his bag and holding it for a few seconds before putting it away and leaving the scene.
Taylor, 22, was found guilty of possessing a weapon in a public place and using threatening language on October 22 last year following a trial yesterday.
Taylor had denied the charges, but the trial took place in his absence after he was taken ill at HMP Hewell in Redditch where is currently in custody.
During the trial, a 17-year-old girl who was in the group Taylor met took to the witness stand.
She described how Taylor, of Judith Butts Gardens in Underdale, Shrewsbury, pulled a "bright orange object" from his bag.
The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons gave evidence from behind screens at the magistrates court.
She said: "I was outside the bus station when it happened with three other people.
"Kieran came over to talk to one of my friends, but he walked away soon after.
"Not long after that he came back and he seemed agitated. He and my friend then walked towards Riverside Shopping Centre, and we followed.
"My friend then ran and Kieran ran after him. They came back to the bus station together soon after.
"I was on the phone to my sister at the time and I was standing about 10ft away from where Kieran and my friend were."
She added: "Kieran than put his bag on the floor and pulled out a bright orange object. It was a gun, which he had out for about three seconds.
"He threatened to use it on one of my other friends before putting it back in his bag.
"After that he walked off with his girlfriend and her friend towards the bus station."
Taylor was found guilty of both charges and is due to be sentenced at Telford Magistrates Court on May 17.
