A GUNMAN faces a prison sentence after admitting having weapons in public.

Shaun Hartley was spotted threatening people as he cycled along Brighton seafront.

Armed police swooped in to arrest him at the marina.

The 38-year-old had his face covered and was brandishing a BB gun.

He also had a fish knife and cannabis resin in a backpack.

At Lewes Crown Court he admitted possessing offensive weapons, and possessing the class B drug.

It was revealed that Hartley, of South Coast Road, Peacehaven, has battled with mental health problems and has twice been sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Judge Christine Laing QC delayed passing sentence for his defence team to get psychiatric and psychological reports from doctors treating him.

But the judge refused to order a pre sentence report and refused to order a psychiatric report on behalf of the court.

The judge said: “Why was he going around with a number of weapons? A gun was being brandished at a member of the public.

“Be under no illusions these are serious offences and a custodial sentence is inevitable.”

Naomi Edwards, prosecuting, said the incident happened on August 10.

At the time, one witness told The Argus: “It was a scary sight.

“He had his face covered and there was certainly a lot of panic in the area from other people.

“I didn’t see the police arrive, I just saw them when they were already arresting a man.

“I saw the police bagging a gun.”

“The police acted really fast which was good because people in the area were definitely getting scared.”

Thomas Nicholson-Pratt, defending, asked the judge to order a full psychiatric report for Hartley, but the judge refused.

He said: “There are some underlying issues there. He was sectioned last year and at the beginning of this year.”

The judge told him no new report would be made, but gave Mr Nicholson-Pratt time to gather existing reports from doctors.

Detective Sergeant Tom Duffy said: “Whatever the circumstances, being in possession of an offensive weapon in public is a serious offence, and anyone caught committing such an offence will be dealt with robustly.

“I’d like to remind people, particularly given the current climate, of their responsibility around UK legislation.

“I’d also like to thank our emergency services colleague who notified us of the incident.”

Hartley will appear for sentence on October 21.