A drug addict who took a “lethal” loaded air rifle to a Chessington World of Adventures car park with his friend has been spared jail.

Andrew Moore, 40, of Barnfield Gardens, received a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after taking the Camo Rocket Bull Whisper rifle, designed to look like a camouflaged hunting rifle, to the theme park’s overspill car park in January.

Friend Gary Stewart, 53, of Woodgate Avenue, Chessington, pleaded guilty in June to the same offence.

He received a two-month community order and was told to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. Moore, who has previous convictions for firearm offences, pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on October 1.

He was also convicted of stealing four walkie talkies from Weybridge Marina in October last year and driving while disqualified.

Back in June, the court heard how CCTV operators filmed Stewart and Moore in the car park with the air rifle.

Prosecutor Amanda McCabe said although the pair appeared to take all possible precautions when firing the weapon, the gun was still very dangerous.

She said: “[The gun] was capable of causing lethal injuries. However, they are not weapons that need a firearms 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.”

Moore will also have to pay £500 in court costs and must attend a six-month drug dependency treatment programme.