A 28-year-old man who caused alarm when he went out dressed in a 'Rambo-style military outfit' complete with several guns and knives in central Gloucester has been spared an immediate prison sentence.

At Gloucester Crown Court on Friday (March 24) the judge, Recorder Ignatius Hughes KC, told Patrick Mizer of Ryecroft Street that the way he was dressed and armed in military stile on the city streets in January made him look like he was 'involved in a low-grade Rambo exhibition.;

Prosecutor Mandla Ndlovu said Mizer was sitting in the Ryecroft Street area, near to where he lived, on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, when a nearby resident saw him with an assault rifle and took a video.

The witness said Mizer was holding a weapon that looked like an M16 automatic rifle, with a torch and a green laser attached to it, said Mr Ndlovu.

Mizer was said to be wearing balaclava and a military styled body warmer with a number of knives and other military paraphernalia attached. He also had a rucksack, air canisters and a speed loading magazine.

The next day the witness saw Mizer again, dressed in a similar fashion, and immediately called the police. He said that the camouflage gear made Mizer look like he was starring in a low-budget movie.

On his arrest, Mizer claimed he had done nothing wrong.

The court was told that a forensic report showed the weapons were in fact air guns that had been 'dieseled.'

"In layman's terms, the innards of the air guns have been lubricated excessively, allegedly increasing the velocity of the pellet," said Mr Ndlovu.

Lucy Taylor, defending that Mizer has been diagnosed with schizophrenia but at the time of his offending he had not taken his medication.

"This is because he had moved to Gloucester from Middlesbrough and was between doctors and was waiting for his transfer to go through and during this time, his medication ran out," she said.

"While he has been remanded in custody, he is now receiving his mediation once again."

Mizer pleaded guilty to possessing an air rifle in a public place, namely Ryecroft Street in Gloucester on January 18 this year; possessing a bladed article, namely a red kitchen knife on January 19, 2023, in Ryecroft Street and possessing an air rifle and an air pistol on the same occasion.

Mizer also admitting committing a further offence during the operational period of a suspended sentence order made by Cleveland Magistrates Court in February 2022 for an offence of possession of a bladed article.

Recorder Hughes told Mizer that he was 'standing in the last chance saloon,' but the court accepted that he has underlying mental health issues and it was likely that the lack of medication had sent him off the rails.

Judge Hughes added: "In the past you have been convicted for possessing bladed articles and you've done it again.

"On this occasion you were involved in a low-grade Rambo exhibition. You were dressed in some sort of military outfit with several firearms attached along with various accoutrements and other items being held in your hands.

"This sort of behaviour has to stop. You need to address your mental health. You've had plenty of offers of help having previously been subjected to a suspended sentence order in which mental health treatment was part of the programme of treatment.

"You have served some months in custody, so with this in mind I am sentencing you to a six month prison sentence suspended for two years and additionally you'll be fined £100 for breaching your suspended sentence order."

The judge ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the air rifles, knives and ancillary equipment.