A gunman taunted unarmed police officers and chall

A gunman taunted unarmed police officers and challenged them to bring in elite armed cops to arrest him, the Old Bailey heard today.

Duncan Horne, 34, sent four officers running for cover when he pointed a replica Walther pistol at them during the terrifying stand-off, it was claimed.

The cops fled the house as Horne stood on the stairs allegedly pointing the weapon at them, shouting: ‘Come on.

Come up and get me.

You will have to get SO19 to get me out of here.

‘

Police then waited for six hours before armed officers entered Horne’s south London home only to find Horne fast asleep on his bed.

Mark Aldred, prosecuting, said the terrifying incident occured late on December 15 last year when a 999 phone call came through from the house at (37) Rowditch Lane, Battersea.

But the line went dead as the operator answered the call, the court heard.

Officers went to the home but at first no one answered the door, the jury was told.

Several minutes later Horne told the concerned cops out of the upstairs window: ‘I’m sorry.

I don’t live here.

‘

Horne’s mother Margaret, eventually answered the door and invited the police in.

But as the officers entered the house, Horne appeared on the stairs and began taunting: ‘Come on boys, which one of you is going to be the first up here? You are going to have to come up and get me.

‘

Horne then disappeared from view, but returned seconds later.

‘Moments later he came part of the way down the stairs with what appeared to be a black handgun.

He pointed it in the direction of the police,’ said Mr Aldred.

Fearing for their safety, the four officers decided to leave the house and took Mrs Horne with them, the court heard.

Armed officers arrived at the scene, but did not enter the building until after 5am the next morning.

‘The defendant was discovered asleep on a bed.

He had a long knife in one hand and this black imitation firearm was found nearby,’ said Mr Aldred.

Horne was arrested and taken to Battersea police station.

The gun was analysed and found to be a six milimetre air pistol replica of a Walther P99 automatic, the court heard.

Horne told police he had drunk about five pints of cider on a night out but went home feeling depressed, the jury was told.

‘He returned home and had an argument with his mother.

At one stage he said he wanted to die,’ said Mr Aldred.

‘He said he did not show the gun to police but wasn’t sure whether he had it in his hand or not,’ added the prosecutor.

Horne, of (58) Freedom St, Battersea, denies possesing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence on December 15 last year.

The trial continues.

ends