I was terrified when armed cops raided my house – I had no idea what had happened
ARMED police raided a family home looking for a weapon — only to find it was a toy cowboy gun.
Thirteen officers and a dog unit surrounded Gemma Sterland’s house after receiving a tip-off about a rifle in her car.
Police vans lined the street as officers banged on the door demanding to know who was inside her home.
Gemma came to the door with her hands up — before realising that the gun was a toy bought the day before for her five-year-old son Charlie.
Although the incident ended amicably, Gemma said it had been terrifying.
She added: “The neighbours must have thought we were running a drugs ring.”
Gemma, and her aerial fitter husband Mark, 43, bought the plastic rifle the day before as a treat for Charlie.
They had been early for a hospital appointment to see his nan.
The couple, also parents to Aodhan, 13, went to a Smyths toy shop where Charlie picked out a £12.99 Gonher cowboy gun.
Diet consultancy boss Gemma, 39, said: “As soon as we got back in the car, he asked to have a look at it, so Mark got it out of the boot, took the packaging off and gave it to Charlie.”
The following day Gemma got a phone call from a neighbour saying the police had surrounded her £520,000 detached four-bed property in Studley, Warwicks.
Gemma said: “I thought she’d lost the plot.
“Then there was this hammering on the front door and someone yelling, ‘Police!’.
“I was utterly terrified and my mind was absolutely racing.
“I had no idea what had happened.”
But as soon as police told her they were investigating a report of a gun in the boot of her Ford Kuga, she realised what had happened.
Charlie grabbed his toy to show the officers.
Gemma added: “Although it gave us a fright, we’re so pleased that the police did investigate properly.
“They were really professional and couldn’t have been more apologetic.”