Judge's frank three-word remark at 'extremely aggressive' dad after road rage row

Anthony Cooper himself admitted his actions were a "moment of madness" when he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court in connection with the confrontation with a takeaway delivery driver

A judge blasted the actions of an "extremely aggressive" dad who chased a takeaway delivery driver in his car.

Anthony Cooper, 50, became so angry by Mohammed Gani's parking outside his home, he confronted the man, pursued him down the street and pointed a "silver and black type pistol firearm" at him. It was later confirmed to be a BB gun, and a judge conceded "it's beyond me" how Cooper became so hostile.

A court heard Cooper also threatened to "knock him (Mr Gani) out" amid a heated confrontation in Birkenhead, Merseyside. Mr Gani, said to be "completely frightened", eventually drove away at speed before dialling 999.

Cooper was arrested and eventually admitted the possession of an imitation firearm with intent, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance. His 18-month jail term was suspended on Monday for two years, as the judge told Cooper "I've given you a chance".

Sentencing the dad at Liverpool Crown Court, Mr Recorder Mark Cooper said: "Your actions were wholly inappropriate. You were extremely aggressive to him and made a deliberate choice to go and get the gun...There is no justification for your actions. It was a moment of madness and I agree with that."

The judge told Cooper the events of that evening had had "a profound impact" on Mr Gani, a young father, and it was "right to acknowledge the toll your actions have had on him".

Cooper, wearing a Nike tracksuit top and Adidas bottoms and sporting grey hair, looked to the heavens and clasped his hands together when he learned his prison sentence wouldn't be immediate.

But the judge also imposed 200 hours of unpaid work, and ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the gun. The judge did not impose any further driving penalty as Cooper still has another two years on his original driving ban.

Mr Gani had parked outside Cooper's house in Birkenhead on August 9 to deliver some food. When Cooper shouted at the victim, Mr Gani told him he was just finishing an order and would move his vehicle within minutes.

But the court heard Cooper shouted towards the driver "just get out of here or I will knock you out". Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, said the defendant then made reference to Mr Gani's apron, "causing him anxiety" as he was concerned Cooper would now know where he worked. The court heard the defendant's aggression continued until a concerned neighbour came out to try and deescalate the tension.

However, the defendant told Mr Gani "wait there, I will show you now, I will show you now" before going back into his home. Mr Gani, "concerned about a weapon", got back into his car and reversed all the way back down the residential street. However, the defendant got into his car and chased after Mr Gani before pulling up alongside him at a junction.

Mr Blasbery said the defendant rolled down his window before he "pointed a silver and black type pistol firearm" at him and said "what now, what now". Mr Blasbery added Cooper initially had the firearm close to his chest before extending his arm and pointing it towards Mr Gani until it was "half inside the driver's window".

Cooper's car was eventually stopped by armed officers in Anfield, Liverpool, later that day. Following a search of his house officers found a BB pellet gun, which was confirmed to have been the weapon used to threaten Mr Gani.

The court heard Cooper told officers he had a heated exchange with Mr Gani where both threatened to knock each other out. He said he went back into his house to collect his cigarettes and wallet because he was going to Anfield to have his phone fixed. When he was shown an exhibit of the gun, he told officers it was a BB gun that he used to "shoot birds that attacked the puppies he bred for sale".

He denied having it when he pulled up next to Mr Gani and said he hadn't moved it for months. However, Mr Blasbery said when he was shown still images of the exchange he admitted having it with him. The court heard Cooper was also disqualified from driving at the time at the time of the offence.

Mr Blasbery also read a victim impact statement from Mr Gani to the court. Mr Gani said he had been unable to return to work due to fear "someone with a gun is chasing me". He said he felt like he was always looking over his shoulder and had woken both his mum and young daughter due to screaming out during the night. He added: "All I want to do is make a living but now I live in fear."

The court heard the defendant, had seven previous conviction 19 offences between November 2019 and November last year. Cheryl Mottram, defending, told the court her client's best mitigation was his guilty pleas. She said: "He is extremely remorseful for the situation and the fear and distress caused to Mr Gani. It was a moment of madness, he can't put into words why he behaved in the way he did, he has previous convictions but they are of a different ilk, he can't explain his actions."

She said her client was under previous stress. The court heard he has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and bowel cancer, while his partner also has had health difficulties. The court heard he worked as a chef and was the sole provider for his family, and had two children aged 14 and eight.

She added: "When in a frustrating situation he behaved really badly and didn't think of the consequences of his actions...he is a man who can comply with community orders, he doesn't present a high risk of danger to the public, he has strong personal mitigation and it may be that just on balance your honour can draw back from the immediate custodial sentence."