Man jailed after gun threat at Newport pub on New Year’s Day

A man who was banned from a Newport pub returned with an imitation firearm and threatened the landlady’s boyfriend on New Year’s Day.

Liam Brabham, 30, tried to sneak into The Nightingale in the Bettws area of Newport on the night of Thursday, January 1 – a pub he had been barred from for being rude to customers and insulting staff.

Landlady Rebecca Reynolds asked him to leave, and he initially did – but returned just 15 minutes later armed with what is believed to have been a pellet gun.

Brabham then threatened Ms Reynolds’ partner, Ryan Agar, by waving the weapon around. Cardiff Crown Court heard Mr Agar initially believed the firearm was real.

CCTV footage of the incident was played to the court by prosecutor Jason Howells.

The footage showed Mr Agar confronting Brabham outside the pub, shouting at him: “Go pull the f****** trigger! You think I’m scared of a f****** gun?”

Brabham then snapped the weapon before leaving the area. He telephoned police the following day to tell them where he was and was arrested.

In a victim impact statement, self-employed builder Mr Agar revealed the incident had left him experiencing flashbacks and suffering with nightmares. He added that he had to take time off work, leaving him out of pocket.

The defendant, of Monnow Way, Bettws, Newport, pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

The court heard Brabham had 28 previous convictions for 92 offences between 2008 and 2024, including robbery, affray and possession of a knife in a public place.

His barrister, Sol Hartley, said in mitigation that his client’s offence had been “unsophisticated and unplanned”.

Judge Christopher Felstead told Brabham: “Your behaviour was incredibly dangerous for all concerned. You also behaved in an utterly stupid way.”

Brabham was jailed for 12 months and will serve around half of that sentence in custody before being released on licence. Time spent remanded in custody following his arrest will count towards the term.

He was also made the subject of an indefinite restraining order not to contact Mr Agar and from going to The Nightingale pub. Brabham will have to pay a £187 victim surcharge.