September 4, 2018 2.15 pm This story is over 66 months old

Jailed: Lincoln man aimed fake gun at girlfriend’s ex

He ‘snapped’ after his partner’s ex began making allegations about him
Mark Golightly has been jailed for four and a half years. Photo: Lincolnshire Police

A Lincoln man who was arrested by armed police in Hull after previously waving an imitation handgun at his partner’s former boyfriend was today jailed for four and half years.

Mark Golightly, 40, was wanted by police after two incidents involving Anthony Holland in January and February this year.

Lincoln Crown Court heard there was a history of grievances between the two men and Golightly had been subjected to a number of malicious and unfounded allegations.

The court was told Golightly “snapped” on January 31 when his partner asked Mr Holland to collect the family’s pet dog.

Howard Ewing, prosecuting, said Golightly saw Mr Holland taking the dog and pursued his red van in a car.

Video footage showed Golightly travelling very close behind Mr Holland who claimed he was “repeatedly rammed.”

The court heard Mr Holland was in fear and drove towards North Hykeham police station where he collided with two other innocent drivers in Lincoln Road.

One of the drivers needed three days off work and the other car was written off.

“Golightly got out of his vehicle,” Mr Ewing told the court.

“He smashed the window of the van being driven by Mr Holland and the dog was released.

“Mr Holland tried to get away but he hit a post and ran off clearly petrified.

“He was chased by the defendant. Initially he had an axe but it was quickly abandoned nearby.”

Following the incident Golightly was aware police wanted to talk to him but he admitted running away because he wanted to be at the birth of his child.

Just three weeks later Golightly was involved in another incident with Mr Holland when he drove past his sister-in-law’s home in a village outside Lincoln shortly after midnight.

Mr Ewing said Mr Holland was stood outside the property with his brother and briefly saw Golightly pointing what appeared to be a small black handgun after he got out of his vehicle.

Mr Holland dropped to the ground and Golightly drove off straight away.

Golightly, who was given an indeterminate sentence in 2008 for his role in an attack on a Lincoln man, was arrested by armed police in Hull in March this year.

John McNally, mitigating, told the court Golightly “snapped” on January 31 after he saw Mr Holland taking the dog and after being subjected to a series of malicious and unfounded domestic allegations.

Mr McNally said the incident on February 19 involved Golightly only briefly waving a child’s toy at Mr Holland.

Golightly, of Cannon Street, Lincoln, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, possessing an offensive weapon and criminal damage on January 31.

He also admitted possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence on February 19.

Passing sentence Judge Andrew Easteal said he accepted that Golightly had been subjected to some malicious allegations.

But the judge told him: “It doesn’t give you the licence to behave the way in which you did.”

The judge also made a restraining order which prevents Golightly from going to the home where the imitation firearms offence occurred and banned him from driving for 12 months.