A PSYCHIATRIC nurse was shocked to find himself staring at the barrel of a gun when he confronted a former in-patient on a hospital ward.

Elvice Watt had the weapon, which could fire ball-bearings, tucked in the waistband of his trousers.

The male nurse, fearing for the safety of 25 patients and staff in the psychiatric unit at Kidderminster Hospital, alerted police by phone.

Watt, who was also carrying a lock-knife, was arrested and more fake weapons were found at his home in Park Court, Park Street, Kidderminster, said Catherine Spedding, prosecuting.

Recorder David Tucker adjourned the case for a second psychiatric report and granted Watt bail. He is due to be sentenced on November 25.

The recorder said 38-year-old Watt showed an interest in firearms and the report should assess whether the defendant was a danger to the public.

Watt had been discharged from the psychiatric unit in 2002 but visited frequently to see friends and collect his medication. Drug misuse had led to paranoid schizophrenia.

At around 9am on October 2 last year, however, Watt walked in and was challenged by the nurse who asked him to leave, said Miss Spedding.

Watt "squared up to him", became aggressive and asked him if he wanted to fight. Then he pulled aside his top, showing the barrel of the handgun sticking out.

Police discovered other imitation guns at his home, parts of guns and a tub of ball-bearings.

Watt told police he carried the gun in case it got stolen from his premises. He needed the knife in his work.

He pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and possession of the knife. He had a record for assault, making threats, burglary and theft.

Dele Alakija, defending, said his problems had been caused by illicit drugs but he had now stopped taking them.

When he was taking medication he was normal. It was a toy gun and there had been no actual violence.