A man who terrorised a quiet village by pointing a rifle - which later proved to be an air-weapon - at residents is to receive psychiatric treatment in a specialist unit, a judge has ruled.
The incident, which occurred in November 2020, caused a school to be locked down and roads to be cordoned off as armed police set about detaining Michael Reynolds.
Footage recorded by a bystander in the village of Quorn emerged on social media showcasing Reynolds being restrained in the road after cops hit him with a rubber bullet, Leicestershire Live reports.
Reynolds, 51, was charged with possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
However, he was ruled unfit to enter a plea at an early stage of the hearing at Leicester Crown Court due to his ongoing ill-health.
Instead, a jury later heard evidence not to establish guilt or innocence, but to consider whether he committed the act as outlined by the prosecution. The jury decided he had.
On Friday, Judge Keith Raynor made a hospital order under section 39 of the Mental Health Act, to ensure Reynolds continues to receive psychiatric treatment in a medium secure hospital.
The situation arose at just after midday, on Wednesday November 11, 2020, when a motorist driving along Quorn's High Street turned right into Sarson Street, to see a man standing in the middle of the road holding an air rifle.
The witness immediately alerted the police and kept a watchful eye on the man, while following on foot from a distance into Castledine Street towards Barrow Road.
Meanwhile, staff at Rawlins Academy, in Loughborough Road, in the village, acted swiftly in locking down the school.
Reynolds made his way into the High Street and walked towards he Co-op store where the doors were also locked to protect staff and customers.
At the corner of Sarson Street he raised the rifle and pointed it towards a bus stop near the school. A number of sixth-formers and a member of staff were nearby at the time.
Armed response officers arrived and told Reynolds to drop the gun, which was later found to have been loaded.
A rubber bullet was deployed and Reynolds ended up on the floor where he was disarmed and arrested.
Judge Raynor said: "I determined at an earlier hearing he was unfit to plead, having considered psychiatric evidence in the case and a jury determined he did 'the act,' namely being in possession of the firearm.
He said that Reynolds had a "well documented mental health history" and that reports from two psychiatrists confirmed he was suffering from mental illness.
In September last year, Reynolds was transferred from prison to the hospital where he is now receiving treatment.
The judge said: "He's been on regular medication and is responding well and has engaged with those offering help and treatment."
He said psychiatric experts estimated that Reynolds, now aged 51, would need between six to 12 months of further treatment before he could be gradually reintroduced back into the community with a "robust package of help and social care" that would allow for a "rapid re-admission" to a psychiatric unit, if necessary.
The judge said the defendant's condition included schizoid symptoms with paranoid delusional beliefs, auditory hallucinations and a manic depressive mood.
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