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Moray man Robert Sacawa jailed for waving replica gun at Mormons


By Ali Morrison

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Inverness Sheriff Court. Picture: Gary Anthony.
Inverness Sheriff Court. Picture: Gary Anthony.

A man has been jailed for waving a replica handgun at two Mormon missionaries in Lossiemouth.

Robert Sacawa pulled out the imitation Colt 9mm automatic pistol after the two woman called at his house in Rockhall Place.

Unaware that the gun only fired pellets rather than real bullets, the pair fled in terror.

Speaking at Inverness Sheriff Court toady, fiscal depute Pauline Gair said: "The two missionaries visited his home to spread the word about their religion.

"He told them that he was of the Catholic faith and said he would not be swayed from that."

The court heard the conversation ended abruptly when Sacawa went into his house and came out with the handgun.

Ms Gair added: "He cocked it and waved it about. It was a BB gun manufactured in China which looked like a Colt self-loading pistol but was not capable of firing."

Sacawa admitted possessing the imitation firearm on June 10, 2018.

The case took so long to come to court because the 42-year-old failed to appear for two hearings and a warrant had to be issued for his arrest.

Defence solicitor Matthew O'Neill said that, in the lead-up to the incident, his client had been drinking significant amounts due to the breakdown of his marriage.

Mr O'Neill added: "Alcohol had been consumed on the day in question prior to the attendance of the two missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"Initially, he had engaged in pleasant conversation with the complainers.

"However after their initial conversation, in what he thought was a joke, he presented the imitation firearm.

"He accepts that it was in extremely bad taste but his inebriation no doubt played a part in his decision.

"Given that his life is now back in Poland, he simply wishes to serve a custodial sentence, draw a line under this matter and move on with his life."

Sacawa was jailed for 136 days, backdated to March 22.


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