An ex-soldier whose life 'spiralled out of control' after being kicked by a horse was caught with a knife and fake gun outside Tesco.
Mark Holt, 33, was arrested by armed police after he was spotted walking with a friend who was carrying a crossbow in Oldham. Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court was told a 'gobsmacked' resident called police over the second man pointing the weapon at trees 'as if he were practising shooting' in Bellfield Avenue.
Specialist officers arrested them both outside Tesco Express in Ashton Road shortly after 5.15pm on July 23. Holt, of Ashton Road, Oldham, had a knife in his right hand and an imitation firearm, made to look similar to a Remington self-loading pistol, hidden in his jacket pocket.
