A CONVICTED criminal has admitted intimidating staff at Moldgreen Community Primary School after he was arrested over claims he had been firing air rifles at targets near the school.

Russell Armitage was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously served a prison term of six years.

But yesterday the 40-year-old admitted two offences relating to his illegal possession of a Webley Crosman Ratcatcher air rifle and a Gamal Cadet air rifle on May 18.

During a brief hearing at Bradford Crown Court Armitage also admitted a further allegation of affray and a charge of intimidation.

The intimidation offence was committed when Armitage is said to have made threatening and abusive remarks outside the school at a time when he believed that staff were assisting with the investigation of an offence.

The court heard that Armitage, of Wakefield Road, Waterloo, was now the subject of an anti-social behaviour order which keeps him away from the school. Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said he was prepared to renew his bail until a sentence hearing on January 30.

The judge told Armitage he did know what had been going on but it appeared to be a serious matter and he was giving no indication as to the sentence he would receive next month.