A wannabe “gangster rapper” sparked an armed police response after pointing a fake gun at a man during a road rage row.

John Mason was wearing a balaclava when he pointed an imitation firearm at a driver after both were involved in a minor accident this summer. After the terrified man drove off, he called the police, with the encounter sparking an armed response.

When officers went to arrest Mason, he was seen carrying a “pistol”, before he was Tasered. A weapon was then found inside a basket in a child’s room.

On Tuesday, Mason, of Coast Road, Wallsend, appeared at Durham Crown Court via link from HMP Leeds to be sentenced for two counts of possession of a firearm and one count of possessing a firearm when prohibited. He had pleaded guilty to the offences.

The court heard that shortly before 10pm on June 17, a man was driving along Broom Lane in Ushaw Moor, Durham, when his car was hit by a Hyundai. The Hyundai failed to stop at the scene and instead drove away.

When the Hyundai eventually stopped, the driver who had been hit “remonstrated” with the female driver. The court was told Mason was in the passenger seat of the Hyundai wearing a balaclava.

Jonathan Gittins, prosecuting, said: “[The victim] took a picture of the car…he shouted ‘are you f****** pi**ed?’ [Mason] reached across and pointed a pistol at his face. [The victim] ducked and sped away before calling police.”

Armed police then went to a County Durham address where Mason was seen leaving a building carrying a pistol. Mr Gittins said: “An officer shouted ‘gun’ to warn the other officers. The defendant re-entered the building and re-appeared with nothing in his hand. He was arrested by police, who deployed a Taser.”

In interview, Mason said the gun that was pointed at the driver was a “pellet gun”. When the property was searched, officers found a pistol in a basket in a child’s room.

Mr Gittins added that the gun used was an “air weapon” but was still classified as a firearm. The court heard Mason had 13 previous convictions for 21 offences, including violence. He had also previously been given a six year prison sentence.

Ian Cook, defending, said Mason entered an early guilty plea and has battled drug and alcohol abuse. He said: “He is able to identify that he has struggles with his mental health and using alcohol and drugs as a coping strategy, which really creates a vicious circle which perpetuates his mental health.”

Mr Cook said that Mason had been developing a fitness regime in custody, as well as attending art classes and was talented in creating art and music. He added: “He wants to apply to go to art college, so he is making plans for the future.”

Sentencing him, Judge Jo Kidd said: “You saw yourself in a particular way and were trying to emulate a gangster rapper appearance. You were wearing a balaclava with a firearm in a bag. It was clearly meant to intimidate and frighten.” Mason was jailed for 32 months.