Unemployed Lee Smith, 31, of Waterworks Road, admitted possessing the gun but denied trying to cause someone else fear of violence when he appeared at Hove Crown Court.

But having heard from the taxi driver, the jury found him guilty and the judge sent Smith to prison.

The cabbie had just dropped off a fare in Quarry Road at around 11.15pm on December 5 last year when Smith approached the car.
Without saying a word, he produced the gun and pointed it at the driver's head.

After a few moments he lowered it and walked away, the court heard.
The driver was understandably distressed and called his control room who called the police.

Officers spotted Smith walking down Parker Road and followed him while specialist armed officers were scrambled to the scene.

They swooped on Smith at about 11.30pm in Malvern Way and arrested him.
Nobody was injured in the operation.

Police recovered the gun, a Brocock gas firing handgun, which is banned.
District Inspector Rosie Ross, of Hastings Police, said: "It is very difficult to tell the difference between real and imitation firearms, that is why it is illegal to carry imitation firearm.

She continued: "We treat all firearms as being real, and deal with any incidents with that in mind.

"This man clearly had total disregard for the taxi driver whom he pointed this weapon and the distress that this has caused.

"I am pleased that the courts have been supportive in sending out a clear message that it is totally unacceptable to act in this way and that it will not be tolerated."

Smith was sentenced to five years in jail for each offence, and these will run concurrently.