A TEENAGER carrying a replica handgun was wrestled to the ground by security guards after a dramatic attempted escape from court yesterday.

The 18-year-old sparked the gun drama at Harrogate Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Richard Davies produced the replica gun, painted in camouflage colours, during the struggle with police officers and court staff.

As he was calmed down, the teenager, who was due to be sentenced after pleading guilty to charges of burglary and other minor offences, sobbed: "I'll kill myself. I am not going to custody. You will not take me."

When he was finally subdued, Davies, of Hambleton House, Harrogate Road, Minskip, was led to the cells, despite making another attempt to escape.

He was later brought back into the court in handcuffs and was sentenced to six months in a young offenders' institution. He was also banned from driving for nine months.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "During the course of the hearing, he ran into the floor of the court and was immediately tackled by Group 4 security staff and the police were called.

"During the struggle, he produced what subsequently proved to be a replica handgun. Police officers who attended the incident overpowered and arrested the man with the assistance of the court security staff and he is now in custody."

The courtroom drama came the day after a man accused of murder leapt from the dock at the Old Bailey and assaulted a senior woman judge Ann Goddard, 64. She needed hospital treatment after she was punched about the head before police and court officials overpowered the prisoner.