Shoebury armed siege: Man admits brandishing handgun (From Echo)

Shoebury armed siege: Man admits brandishing handgun

10:20am Monday 6th July 2009 in

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A MAN has admitted brandishing a fake handgun, which caused a three-hour armed siege in Shoebury.

Mark Norton, 24, sparked the siege on April 10 this year, when police went to his home in Elm Road, Shoebury, in connection with a breach of bail conditions.

But when police arrived he said he needed to get his trainers from a cupboard but pulled out the BB gun, which police thought was a real handgun. During a tense three-hour stand-off he fled the house and was on the run for 17 days before he was arrested.

Following his escape, a man claiming to be Norton posted messages on the Echo website telling readers he would not be found by police “unless I choose to be”.

Neighbours in Elm Road spoke of their relief at the news that Norton had admitted his crime.

Sylvia Kemp, 64, said: “I’m glad police caught him and he’s admitted what he’s done.

“I think you reap what you sow. When you do something like that, you have to accept it and take the punishment.

“I hope all this leaves his mother in peace and she can get on with her own life.”

Norton pleaded guilty to using an imitation firearm to resist arrest when he appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Friday and will return to the court to be sentenced.