Dog walkers terrorised by Birmingham thug who pulled out 'gun' and threatened them

Kye Colvin, 22, is behind bars after he pulled out an imitation firearm and told one of the people he confronted 'my gang in Birmingham don't mess around'

Dog walkers were left in shock when a 22-year-old "behaved like a gangster" and brandished what appeared to be a real gun at them. Derby Crown Court heard how Kye Colvin told one of the people he confronted "My gang in Birmingham don’t mess around".

Colvin then flashed what turned out to be an imitation firearm, which has never been recovered. Moments before the threats, Colvin's two XL Bully dogs had been off their leads, causing chaos by overpowering one of the dog walkers' own animals.

The victims, who believed the weapon to be real, shared in their statements that they were "terrified" of the potential danger. Colvin received a 15-month prison sentence from Judge Shaun Smith KC who remarked: "People in public areas can expect to be able to use them without the nuisance of people riding their bikes and having dogs, particularly the type of dogs you had, off their leads. That is what started all of this."

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"An issue kicked off and I am told you then went home. You then made a conscious decision to go back with a gun, into the park, and confront a person you were not happy with.

"People in public areas can expect to be able to use them without the nuisance of people riding their bikes and having dogs, particularly the type of dogs you had, off their leads[quote_full_stop] That is what started all of this.

"You deliberately went back, armed with an imitation firearm and behaved like a gangster. You were full of it, trying to frighten those people who believed you would use that firearm and the consequences for those people were terrifying. Can you imagine being out walking your dogs and someone pulling a gun out on them? They thought it was a real gun and that kind of behaviour is simply unacceptable."

Laura Pitman, prosecuting, detailed the incident which occurred around 1.20pm on New Year's Eve. A man was walking his two dogs in Gresley Old Hall Park, Church Gresley, when he encountered Colvin, his face concealed, riding an electric bike with two dogs - initially believed to be XL Bully dogs, a claim disputed by the defence.

The prosecutor explained that one of Colvin's dogs pinned one of the walker's dogs to the ground, sparking an argument witnessed by a mother and her son, also out walking their pets. Miss Pitman said: "They asked the victim if he was okay and then witnessed the defendant punch and slap one of his dogs forcefully to its face and then leave."

"He then returned shortly after, approached the first victim and unzipped his top to reveal what appeared to be a black handgun. The victim felt terrified and intimidated. The defendant then approached the second victim (the son) and said to him "my (gang) in Birmingham don't (mess) around, they use straps (guns), unzipped his top and showed him the gun too.

"People in public areas can expect to be able to use them without the nuisance of people riding their bikes and having dogs, particularly the type of dogs you had, off their leads. That is what started all of this."

That victim, who used to be a cage fighter, said 'people from here use their fists not weapons'. "Miss Pitman stated that after the departure of Colvin, his Birmingham abode was searched and officers discovered a "gun box" under a bed.

She revealed that the artillery, subsequently verified as a BB gun, has gone missing. The accused, who resided in Regent Street, Church Gresley, but also lists an Oxford Street, Bournville, Birmingham, admitted to possessing an imitation firearm alongside a public order misdemeanor.

He has a 2020 conviction from Birmingham for perilous driving sans licence or insurance. Prosecutors relayed three victims' statements.

One disclosed avoiding dog walks in the familiar park out of fear, while the ex-cage fighter mentioned being "still feels scared of people he sees riding their bikes with their hoods up".

Defence barrister Matt Hayes explained his client's shift from Birmingham to Swadlincote to start anew with his partner, disrupted when the mother of his child became envious and curtailed contact with their son. When the judge queried why he was "behaving like a gangster", Mr Hayes responded: "It was immature bravado. There was no threat to shoot them, the defendant realised he was out of his depth, put it (the weapon) away and retreated. It was a pretty foolish action.

In addition to his prison sentence, the judge also issued Colvin with a three-year restraining order, prohibiting him from contacting the victims or visiting Gresley Old Hall Park.