Footage shows the shocking moment a drone pilot was threatened by a stranger brandishing a gun while trying to photograph a property for an estate agent. Watch the video here:
While drones once symbolised the elaborate technology reserved for war zones or the likes of James Bond, these days, they’re more of a modern-day solution for life’s day-to-day tasks – from delivering parcels to remote parts of the UK and firing seeds to plant millions of trees effortlessly, through to ensuring Australia’s fried chicken lovers can get their fix without leaving the sofa.
And estate agents are also employing drone photographers to capture content for their properties – as the case recently in Cirencester, Gloucester, only for the gig to end up with police called to the scene.
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The fully-registered and licensed pilot – an unnamed 33-year-old man - was flying the drone on Monday 22 August to film a property in Cirencester, Gloucester.
At around 9.30am, he was approached by a man with a firearm, who claimed he’d been trying to shoot the drone using the weapon.
"Don't f*****g fly a drone over my garden," the man can be heard saying in the footage.
At this point, it was not clear whether the gun he was wielding was a live firearm or a replica.
The drone pilot, from Swindon, Wiltshire, explained to the angry resident that he was simply filming an unrelated property for an estate agent.
However, the suspect remained unhappy and continued to act aggressively and threateningly.
He then prodded the victim with his weapon, but the pilot managed to disarm him by grabbing the gun and kicking it out of reach.
The suspect then fled in his car, with armed officers deployed to the scene before arresting a 71-year-old man from Cirencester when he returned.
The man was held on suspicion of possessing a firearm with the intent to cause, with officers also seizing an air rifle after the incident.
Gloucestershire Police said the suspect has since been released under investigation.
A spokesman said: ''Police were called to reports of a person making threats with a weapon on Shepherds Way, Cirencester, at around 9.30am yesterday (Monday 22 August).
''Armed officers attended the scene and an air rifle was seized.
''A 71-year-old man from Cirencester was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm with the intent to cause fear. He has been released under investigation while enquiries continue.''
Topics: UK News
Jess Hardiman