A 36-year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent has received a suspended prison sentence following a series of offences involving an imitation firearm, drug-driving, and multiple driving violations. Mark Hudson appeared at North Staffordshire Justice Centre where he was sentenced to 32 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, and banned from driving for three years.
Hudson, who is prohibited from possessing firearms as it has been less than five years since his release from prison, was involved in an incident on July 15, 2025, in Grangewood Road, Meir. According to prosecution evidence, he pursued a man he had been arguing with and pointed an imitation firearm at him while chasing him down the street. Witnesses reported fearing for their safety, believing Hudson intended to use the weapon. Hudson pleaded guilty to possession of both the imitation firearm and possession of a prohibited firearm.
The prosecution outlined additional offences committed by Hudson related to a collision on June 8, 2025, on Sandon Road, Meir. Hudson was driving a Hyundai Tucson involved in a crash with a Ford Transit. He was found to be driving without a licence, insurance, MOT, or tax and tested positive for cocaine at the scene. Blood tests conducted at Royal Stoke University Hospital revealed a cocaine metabolite level more than twice the legal limit of 50 micrograms per 100 millilitres of blood. Hudson pleaded guilty to drug-driving and other motoring offences.
Further charges included riding an e-scooter on Park Hall Road, Longton, the day after the firearm incident while legally disqualified from operating vehicles. Hudson admitted to this offence as well.
During sentencing, defense counsel David Ellis argued that Hudson did not believe he was impaired at the time of the collision and contested the claim that he consumed cocaine, though he acknowledged some drug use before driving. Ellis also explained that the Grangewood Road incident followed an altercation where an individual had been forced from the property and a brick was thrown through the front window, inadvertently hitting Hudson’s pregnant girlfriend in the head. Hudson responded by waving the brick to deter the individual, which he later held was an excessive response. The firearm in question was described as a BB gun, an imitation weapon.
Ellis further stated that Hudson was unaware that the e-scooter legally qualified as a mechanically propelled vehicle. Magistrates imposed a Building Choices programme and a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement as part of the sentence. Hudson was ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £187 surcharge in addition to his driving ban.