Tristan Tony Hughes terrorised Rockhampton motorists and pedestrians with pump action firearm replica

A man who terrorised random strangers on a Rockhampton street as he aimed a pump action firearm at them and cars has been sentenced for his actions.

A man who terrorised random strangers on a Rockhampton street as he aimed a pump action firearm at them and cars has been sentenced for his actions.

Tristan Tony Hughes, 19, pleaded guilty on January 25 in Rockhampton Magistrates Court to one count of carrying out conduct that caused alarm to other people while carrying a replica firearm.

Police prosecutor Jennifer Leech said the first victim saw Hughes on December 21 about 3.50pm on the other side of Derby Street cock the gun and appear to fire it at the victim.

“(The victim) was extremely fearful and ran into the Walter Reid Cultural Centre and called police,” she said.

Ms Leech the next victim saw Hughes come out of a lane way onto Derby Street.

She said the second victim saw Hughes raise the firearm and aim it in their direction before aiming at a vehicle.

She said this witnessed ducked and ran around a corner before calling police.

Ms Leech said the third victim was driving south on Derby Street near the Bolsover Street intersection when he saw a male raise a firearm and aim at vehicles.

“He quickly turned left onto Bolsover Street to get away from the male before calling police,” she said.

Ms Leech said the fourth victim was also driving, but on Bolsover Street.

“As she went around the round about and exited onto Derby Street, she sighted the male on the footpath holding the firearm in his right hand,” she said.

Ms Leech said this witness saw Hughes swing the gun backwards and forwards.

She said as this victim drove past, he swung the gun up and pointed it at her, “made a motion as if he had fired the gun at her”.

Ms Leech said the witness saw Hughes laughing afterwards.

She said the witness was “extremely fearful and quickly returned to her workplace” where she called police.

Ms Leech said police conducted “extensive” patrols of the area before obtaining CCTV footage which identified Hughes.

She said police located Hughes a short time later on the corner of Denham and Denison Streets, Rockhampton.

Ms Leech said Hughes told police he no longer possessed gun which was actually a gel blaster and left it at a friends place, however a search warrant executed on his residence revealed it was still in his possession.

Defence lawyer Samantha Legrady said Hughes realised it was a stupid thing to do, that he wasn’t thinking at the time and he wouldn’t do it again.

Magistrate Jason Schubert said the photographs of the replica gun showed it did appear to look like a real firearm.

He said Hughes’s action had adverse impacts on his victims.

Mr Schubert said Hughes’ actions suggested he carried out these acts for attention.

He then told Hughes to try doing positive, legal, actions to get attention instead.

Mr Schubert said he considered sending Hughes to jail as a sentence, however, was persuaded not to.

Instead, he placed Hughes on a probation order for 12 months and ordered Hughes to do 50 hours community service.