Police were called after a couple saw a man outside their Dewsbury home waving what appeared to be a hand-gun.
Leeds Crown Court heard James Dransfield was repeatedly shouting to Dexter Murray and his girlfriend Leanne Gabitas to come outside the property in Windsor View, Shaw Cross.
Miss Gabitas said later she was “scared to death” about what he was going to do but Dransfield left before police arrived.
Officers traced him to an address in Garden Terrace, Ravensthorpe where they were informed the gun was hidden in the top drawer of a freezer in the cellar, when it was seized it was found to be a plastic replica of a Glock BB gun.
Dransfield, 26, now of no fixed address admitted assault and possessing an imitation firearm to cause fear of violence and was jailed for five years with three years extended licence after Judge Guy Kearl QC said he was satisfied he was dangerous.
Mehran Nassiri prosecuting said the incident began earlier on September 13 as the couple were watching television and Mr Murray’s dogs began to bark.
When he looked outside through the peephole he realised someone was there but could not see who. The person also tried to get in pushing the handle up and down.
Mr Murray said he got a cricket bat and was tapping it on the door telling the person outside to leave. He then heard a person run downstairs and within seconds they saw Dransfield outside calling them out.
The judge said he accepted it was not a real gun but the purpose was to frighten those to whom it was pointed and he had succeeded in that. His previous record including assaults, robbery and burglary aggravated his situation.
