A GUNMAN who threatened two homeowners on their doorsteps after a drink and drugs session has been convicted.

A jury at Bolton Crown Court took just under two hours to find John Paul Devaney guilty of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear.

A second man, Ian Stuart Dalgleish, was found not guilty and acquitted.

The court was told that Devaney, aged 20, of Newby Road, Breightmet, was a passenger in a car driven by Dalgleish around Bolton for up two hours during which several people were threatened.

Armed police officers and the Greater Manchester Police helicopter were involved in a major hunt for the gunman after Devaney was seen wielding a realistic replica gun at Middlebrook Retail Park in July last year.

The court was told that he was then driven to Katherine Hopes home in Rutherford Drive, Over Hulton, in Dalgleishs BMW where he knocked on the womans door and pointed the gun at his own head.

After leaving the mother-of-two in tears and fearing for her life, the pair drove to St Helens Road, Daubhill, where Devaney knocked on the home of Martin Kilcoyne.

Mr Kilcoyne opened the door and Devaney asked him: "Do you mind if I shoot you?"

Mr Kilcoyne told the court that Devaney went to make a "cocking motion" which made him think it was a gun.

It was not until 2am, after he had confronted Mr Kilcoyne, that police swooped on Devaney and Dalgleish, aged 32, of Tarleton Place, off Hulton Lane.

CID officers spotted the BMW and four armed policemen surrounded the car before drawing their weapons. They then arrested Devaney, who was wearing a red bandana and a white baseball cap with "BNP" written on it with lipstick.

The gun was found in the rear footwell of the car and Dalgleish was also arrested along with another man, who was later released without charge.

The case was adjourned until February 25 to allow psychiatric and pre-sentence reports to be compiled.