Imran Bezuidenhaut pointed gun in ‘abhorrent reaction’ to schoolyard rumours

A Caroline Springs father has been slammed for his “abhorrent reaction” of pointing a firearm at a schoolboy who had been spreading rumours about his cousin.

A Caroline Springs father has been warned to expect jail after pointing an imitation gun at a schoolboy who spread rumours about his cousin.

Imran Bezuidenhaut faced the Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, pleading guilty to unlawful assault with a weapon and possession of an imitation firearm among other charges.

The court heard he saw the 16-year-old boy standing outside a fast food restaurant in Taylors Hill about 5pm on August 3 last year, asking him: “Are you the one spreading rumours”.

The teenager told police Bezuidenhaut “brandished” the weapon in his direction and there was a “click”.

The victim and Bezuidenhaut’s cousin attended the same high school and had earlier been arguing about alleged rumours which had led to the girl being “extensively bullied” by her peers, the court heard.

Defence lawyer, William Barker, said his client had n “abhorrent emotional reaction” after the girl had come home from school distraught.

“Nothing I say is to suggest these matters are not serious,” he said.

“It’s an entirely disproportionate reaction, but this wasn’t planned or premeditated offending. What he was trying to do was protect her and stop any further rumours.”

A few hours after the incident, Bezuidenhaut messaged the victim an apology which Mr Barker said showed his remorse and desire to “minimise the damage to that boy”.

“Hey mate sorry about today didn’t mean to scare you. It‘s just a toy. Just stop the rumours,” the message read.

Magistrate Greg Robinson described the offending as serious, but agreed he had displayed remorse after the incident and assisted police to located and seize the gel blaster – which he had sold on to a friend.

He told Bezuidenhaut he was considering a combination sentence – that is a jail term followed by a community corrections order.

Bezuidenhaut will return to court for sentencing on July 25.