Hotelier threatened his staff with airgun

A Bournemouth hotelier was last week found guilty of threatening some of his staff at gunpoint during a row over missing cash.

David Strand was convicted at Bournemouth Crown Court of one count of "possessing an airgun in order to cause others to fear unlawful violence" following the incident in October 1997.

The court heard how Strand, then manager of the 60-bedroom Hazlewood Hotel, had pointed the gun at night porter Jonathan Jones and two other colleagues during a heated argument. Giving evidence, Jones said Strand had been shouting and saying he did not want to be "ripped off".

Jones said: "He brought the gun up with his right hand and pointed it at me saying: ‘Now tell me you haven't taken it'."

Strand, who defended himself, claimed he was unable to hold the gun in his right hand because of an earlier accident that had left him severelydisabled.

Recorder Nigel Mylne QC adjourned sentencing until reports had been prepared on Strand but said: "I think I shall be imposing a financial penalty on you. The pointing of a firearm in front of somebody, particularly in the workplace, is a very serious matter indeed."