A FOOD delivery driver was threatened with a gun after his car blocked a neighbour’s driveway.

Fortunately the weapon was only an imitation but the victim Mohamad Gani did not know if was real or not and has been left traumatised and afraid to do his job.

The angry neighbour, Anthony Cooper, described as having had “a moment of madness” drove off after the incident despite being a disqualified driver.

His rash behaviour landed him before a judge who sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment. But after hearing that the dad-of-two was the family breadwinner who would lose his job as a chef if jailed the judge suspended the term for two years.

“You clearly need to address your anger issues, “ Recorder Mark Cooper, told the 50-year-old and ordered him to carry out 200 hours unpaid work.

Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that the incident happened about 6.20 pm on August 9 when Mr Gani was delivering food in the Tranmere area.

As he parked in Victoria Road to make a delivery Cooper came out of his house opposite and asked him to move his car. Cooper began to reverse his vehicle off his driveway but stopped halfway down and got out of his car.

He shouted at Mr Gani to move his car and Mr Gani asked him not to be so rude and said he would move it in a moment when he had delivered the food, said Mr Blasbery.

“The defendant replied in an aggressive manner and said, ‘just get out of here or I’ll knock you out’.”

He referred to the apron Mr Gani was wearing which concerned him as it had his workplace logo on. Cooper got into his car and meanwhile a neighbour came out and calmed the situation down.

Cooper shouted to Mr Gani, ‘I’ll show you now’ and afraid that he might produce a weapon, Mr Gani began to reverse down the road, but Cooper drove up alongside and pointed a silver and black pistol through the open driver’s window at his chest saying, ‘what now, what now,’ said Mr Blasbery.

“He was completely frightened and so scared he wound his window up and drove off at speed. He then stopped further down the road and dialled 999.

The police arrived and Cooper was stopped in Anfield by armed officers and arrested. When his home was searched a pellet gun was found.

Mr Blasbery said it was found that Cooper had been banned from driving for three years in November last year.

When interviewed the defendant said he wanted to leave his home and the delivery driver had completely blocked his exit. He admitted there had been an exchange of words and said he owned the imitation gun to shoot at birds which attacked puppies he bred.

The court heard he has five previous convictions for 19 offences.

In an impact statement Mr Gani said he had been suffering panic attacks and fearing someone was chasing him with a gun.

He said he had lost money as he had felt unable to go back to work and his life had changed. He had nightmares and woke his wife up screaming.

Cheryl Mottram, defending, said that Cooper was “extremely remorseful” for the fear and distress he caused the victim. He had been under an “immense amount of pressure.”

She said he is undergoing treatment for bowel cancer and his partner has her own health problems. Things had got on top of him and he behaved very badly without thought of the consequences.

He said his behaviour had been “a moment of madness.”

Cooper, of Victoria Road, Tranmere, pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation gun with intent to cause fear of violence and driving while disqualified and without a licence. He had six points put on his licence.