A man has been ordered to carry out community service after he took a "lethal" loaded air rifle to a Chessington World of Adventures car park.

Gary Stewart, 53, of Woodgate Avenue, Chessington, pleaded guilty earlier this month to having the weapon, designed to look like a camouflaged hunting rifle, in the theme park's overspill car park in January.

He was with friend Andrew Moore, 39, of Barnfield Gardens, Kingston, who also pleaded guilty to having an airgun but denied breaching licensing conditions relating to another matter.

Stewart said Moore was showing him the rifle and how it fired because he was thinking of buying one and he “knew more about them”.

The court heard how CCTV operators saw Stewart and Mr Moore in the car park with a Camo Rocket Bull Whisper air rifle, which is designed to look like a camouflaged hunting rifle.

Prosecutor Amanda McCabe said although the pair appeared to take all possible precautions when firing the weapons, the guns were still very dangerous.

She said: “[The gun] was capable of causing lethal injuries however they are not weapons that need a fire arms licence to own.

“There was a man walking his dog and two females walking a dog nearby.

“But the weapons did not have the power to fire more than 50 metres.”

Magistrate Carole Hopkins said: “We find this to be a serious offence, so serious because you were where members of the public frequent.”

Stewart received a two-month community order and was told to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Monday, June 15.

Mr Moore will appear at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court for trial on August 14. 

Mrs Hopkins also ordered the destruction of the gun and told Stewart to pay £145 in costs.