A FATHER and son have been warned they face long prison sentences after a gun incident at a Bradford firm earlier this month.

David Nichols, 61, and his son, Christopher, 33, were charged with the possession of a shortened double-barrelled shotgun following a disturbance at Clean Green Upgrades in Barnard Road, West Bowling, on August 17.

The pair, who are currently remanded in custody at HMP Leeds, appeared before a judge at Bradford Crown Court for a preliminary hearing today.

But during a brief hearing over a video link to the prison, they both entered guilty pleas to possessing the firearm with intent to cause Gavin Page to believe that unlawful violence would be used against him.

The two defendants were employees at the firm.

Judge Peter Benson told David Nichols, of Busfield Street, Bradford, and Christopher Nichols, of Bierley Lane, Bradford, that the offence they had admitted carried a statutory minimum prison sentence of five years due to the nature of the weapon involved and they must expect long prison sentences when they are sentences on October 8.

Barrister Ian Howard, for David Nichols, asked for the case to be adjourned so he could get up-to-date medical reports on his client.

VIDEO: SEE THE MOBILE PHONE FOOTAGE OF THE ARMED POLICE SWOOP

During an earlier hearing at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court, prosecutor Richard Davies said Christopher and David Nichols had been sent to work on a job for the company in Swindon.

During the trip, an “incident” occurred relating to Christopher Nichols, in which it was suggested money had been taken from him.

The incident was said to have “festered” over the following weekend, causing the pair to attend work on the Monday morning with the shotgun, which David Nichols was said to have hidden in his coat.

His son was accused of making threats towards staff including Gavin Page, attempting to use the gun before being jumped on by other members of staff in a bid to stop the situation escalating.

Mr Davies told the court: “This was clearly pre-meditated, you turned up with a weapon to threaten people. You had obviously thought about it over the weekend and decided to take this course of action.”

Shortly after the incident, dramatic footage emerged which showed armed police detaining a suspect outside the company’s offices.

Shot on a mobile phone, the film showed armed officers pointing their weapons at a man as he emerged from a company headquarters in West Bowling.

Officers can be heard shouting orders at the suspect as they train their weapons on him.

He walked across the road as officers and members of the public look on before he stops at the pavement where he is pinned to the ground.