A JUDGE praised the bravery of two police officers who tackled a psychotic gunman during a shooting incident at a flats complex in Elland.

Bradford Crown Court heard how 23-year-old Samuel Templeman believed he was the target of assassins in a film during the drama at the Perseverance Mill complex on Westbury Street in April.

Templeman had armed himself with an air rifle that morning and he shot one of the residents Sam Callaghan in the left bicep after knocking on his apartment door.

After injuring Mr Callaghan Templeman bizarrely told him: “Oh sorry. I thought you were the delivery man.”

Pc Drew Wilson and his colleague Pc Richard Thorpe arrived at the apartment block after the police were alerted to the shooting and they found Templeman still armed with the weapon.

Prosecutor Ken Green told the court that the officers asked him to put the rifle down but instead Templeman fired it at Pc Wilson hitting him in the right upper arm.

“Fortunately he was uninjured although he did feel the impact striking his arm,” said Mr Green.

As the officers retreated they could hear the rifle being fired in the direction of the car park before Templeman approached them again pointing the weapon at them.

Pc Wilson slipped and fell and he described how Templeman appeared to be reloading the rifle.

“At that point Pc Wilson was obviously fearful for himself,” said Mr Green.

“Fortunately Pc Wilson was able to use his CS gas spray to effectively gas the defendant and it was at this point that Pc Thorp was able to put handcuffs on him and he was restrained.”

The court heard that Mr Callaghan suffered a painful injury to upper arm which swelled up and bled a bit.

The wound was cleaned and dressed at hospital and he was given antibiotics and painkillers.

Templeman, who was a resident in the same apartment building, pleaded guilty to charges of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and assaulting Mr Callaghan.