A CRAZED drama student who held the sister of actor Jimmy Nail hostage at gunpoint, has been put on probation.

Newcastle Crown Court had heard Christopher David snapped when no one would listen to his ideas for a play, so he started to act out the plot using teacher Val McLane and 30 terrified students.

Drama student David, 24, burst into a packed lecture theatre as the Geordie star's sister was assessing her students' end-of-year performance.

He pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the shocked teacher and students before cocking the pistol and shouting: "Stay where you are and listen to me."

In his bag was the script for a play he had written named: "snapped" - which told the story of a drama student holding his classmates hostage at gunpoint.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the drama unfolded in the lecture hall at Bede Tower, at the University of Sunderland, on January 13 last year, and was captured on a class video.

Ms McLane tried to reason with David but he just told her to sit down.

One terrified student suffered an asthma attack and others shouted that they had children at home as they pleaded to leave the theatre.

Eventually, David allowed six people out of the room before telling other students that no one had listened to him.

Those released raised the alarm and a fully-armed police response followed.

The ordeal eventually came to an end after about 30 minutes when brave student Andrew Foster overpowered David and forced him to the ground.

Armed police rushed the building and arrested David before releasing the shaken students.

Christopher Prince, mitigating, said: "When he finally had this outburst it was a clear cry for help.

"He chose the most public stage that was available to him - the end of year production of the drama group's work."

David, of Willow Grange, Ryhope, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear.

Yesterday, he was placed on probation for three years, with a condition attached that he receives psychiatric help after tests revealed he was suffering from Asbergers Syndrome - a form of autism