A TROUBLED drama student held the sister of actor Jimmy Nail hostage and forced her to listen to his play at gun-point, a court heard yesterday.

Lecturer Val McLane and a group of 30 terrified drama students watched in horror as Christopher David burst into the lecture theatre and waved around a replica handgun.

The 24-year-old shouted: "Stay where you are and listen to me", as one student had an asthma attack and others pleaded to leave because they had children at home.

Newcastle Crown Court was told how the real-life drama unfolded at Sunderland University's Bede Tower in January.

The court heard how police later recovered a play entitles Snapped, written by David, the plot of which was identical to the ordeal he subjected his classmates to.

As news of the hostage situation spread, armed police surrounded the building and cordoned off nearby streets. The stand-off eventually came to an end when brave student Andrew Foster overpowered the 6ft 4ins hefty David and forced him to the ground.

Prosecutor Paul Sloane said: "It's clear the students had been in fear of their lives during the course of this incident.

"They were terrified of the accused and believed the gun was real.

"Everybody present believed the handgun was a real weapon and by cocking it as he did, it made a clicking sound.

"He told those present to stay where they were and to listen to him.

"He was pointing and waving the replica handgun. He was aggressive and threatening.

"People in the room were extremely distressed at what was happening. They were frightened. One student suffered an asthma attack and hyper-ventilated.

"For several minutes the defendant walked around with the gun in his hand. At least one student could be heard crying."

Police raided the building shortly afterwards and David was led away to the relief of the students and staff.

They recovered the gun containing seven blank cartridges and a stash of 43 other shells.

The court heard that David, a third year student at the university, had bought the gun for £73 in Newcastle.

Mitigating, Christopher Prince told the court that David suffers from genetic disorders including autism and had an attention deficit disorder.

He said the defendant's actions had been a cry for help after pleading with friends, family and doctors that there was something wrong with him.

He told the court that David only had two "D" grade passes at GCSE, but had still somehow managed to get into university to the shock of judge David Hodson, who demanded to know how this had happened.

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

Judge David Hodson adjourned sentence for one week for reports