A MAN who went on the rampage with a gun at his own barbecue had his jail sentence cut on appeal by top judges yesterday.

James Coyle, 36, began the afternoon peacefully cooking in his garden, but ended up being tackled and felled by police with CS spray.

Coyle, of Olive Walk, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence at York Crown Court last July.

Mr Justice Gage, sitting at London's Criminal Appeal Court, cut that to 15 months, saying Coyle had shown remorse for his "disgraceful conduct".

The judge told the court how Coyle, who he described as having a drink problem, held a barbecue in his garden on May Day last year.

He became "very drunk", then, having become involved in a brawl with one of his guests, fetched a pump action air rifle from the house, with which he threatened his friend.

When police arrived, he pointed the gun - which wasnot loaded - at them, and was tackled and disarmed by an officer, then gassed with CS spray to bring him under control.

Mr Justice Gage said Coyle had been "immediately contrite and remorseful, and sought to apologise to the many people who were put in fear by his actions".