A farmer who convinced his girlfriend he worked for the Secret Service while living a James Bond-style fantasy is behind bars after police found a gun hidden in his chicken coop.
John Hare, who had a wife and family, told his girlfriend he had killed people in the past and had agents watching him so always had to have a handgun close by. The 53-year-old Walter Mitty character was even armed during a dinner outing to a Toby Carvery and would carry the .22 pistol on nights out with the woman.
A judge has said Hare, whose marriage broke down, was living a "James Bond-type fantasy" to impress his girlfriend, who he was seeing for five years before he attacked her during a confrontation at his home in May 2020. Newcastle Crown Court heard Hare had punched his girlfriend three times and sent her to the floor. He then put his palm to her face and caused her nose to bleed before he caused damage to her car wing mirror.
