A MAN who threatened two soldiers with a replica pistol on the British Army's largest garrison will have to wait until next month to discover his fate.

Gordon Hunter, 31, of Arkengarthdale Road, Reeth, admitted affray when he appeared before magistrates in Richmond yesterday.

However, the magistrates decided they wanted more information about his background before deciding on a sentence and the case was adjourned until Monday, December 23.

The court was told two soldiers, who had been drinking in Catterick Garrison on November 1, were on their way home and claimed they hailed a car they believed was a taxi.

However, although it stopped, the driver was aggressive and, during a subsequent altercation, he opened a glove compartment to show them a gun.

The soldiers said the driver then got out of the car with the weapon behind his back, driving off when they walked away.

Police were given the car's registration number and traced it to Hunter's address, where a search revealed the gun still in the glove compartment.

Mitigating, solicitor Alan Meehan said that although Hunter collected replica weapons, he only had the gun in the car as he had been trying to sell it to someone else.

He admitted showing it to the two soldiers, but Hunter claimed it was because they had blocked his way after he stalled his car at traffic lights in Catterick Garrison and he was concerned for his own safety as they appeared to be spoiling for a fight.

Mr Meehan emphasised that although Hunter admitted he had got out of the car after showing the soldiers the gun, he left the weapon inside the vehicle and at no point did he pick it up or point it at anybody.