A 23-year-old man who tried to rob a Bradford bus driver with an imitation handgun has been jailed for two and a half years.

Danny Mavin told terrified driver James Kiely: “I’m going to count to three and then shoot you.”

Mr Kiely believed the gun was real and his passengers were also left in a state of fear, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

Mavin, of Daniel Court, Holme Wood, Bradford, pleaded guilty to charges of attempted robbery and having an imitation weapon.

Prosecutor Stephanie Hancock said Mavin got on the bus operated by First at 6pm on November 24 last year.

The court heard he had been drinking all day, downing a small bottle of whisky and up to six litres of cider. He had a large bottle of cider tucked down his trousers and Mr Kiely told him he had to get rid of it before he could travel on the bus.

Mavin then pointed what looked like a black handgun at Mr Kiely and repeatedly threatened: “Give me your money or I’ll shoot you.”

Miss Hancock said there were several passengers on the bus and a data collector from First.

Mr Kiely pressed the panic button but it did not work.

Mavin stepped off the bus, started laughing and said: “I’m only joking. It’s a cigarette lighter.”

Mr Kiely shut the bus doors, drove to the depot and raised the alarm.

Mavin was arrested in January after a police officer recognised him on CCTV images of the robbery attempt caught on a camera in the bus.

During his police interview Mavin told officers he threatened Mr Kiely with a gun-shaped cigarette lighter.

But jailing him, Judge John Potter said Mr Kiely had believed the gun was real and that he was about to be shot by Mavin.

In mitigation, Mavin’s barrister, Gerald Hendron, said his client was a chronic alcoholic. He now recognised how foolish and frightening his behaviour was.

After the case, Inspector John Redding, of Bradford South Police, said: “This must have been an extremely frightening experience for the driver of the bus who was simply going about his job.

“Those who provide a public service should not have to find themselves confronted in this way and it will not be tolerated.”

A First bus spokesman said: “We are glad that the courts are coming down hard on people carrying out this type of nasty incident. We would like to thank the police for their efforts in bringing the case to court.”